Perez-Somarriba Opens with Three-Set Win in California
By Alex Schwartz
HurricaneSports.com
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Estela Perez-Somarriba of the University of Miami women’s tennis team started play Wednesday at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships.
The senior, ranked second nationally and seeded fifth in the draw, tallied a three-set victory at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.
“Estela had a tough first-round opponent who didn’t give her a lot of rhythm,” Miami head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “Estela did an excellent job of managing the situation while raising her level in the third set. I think she had a solid start to her tournament and we’re looking forward to tomorrow.”
Perez-Somarriba, the reigning NCAA singles champion, opened with a 6-4 victory in the first set against No. 40 Alana Smith of NC State, but failed to win a game in the second.
The Madrid native quickly got back on track in the decider, taking the opening game at love and dropping just two games to record a 6-4, 0-6, 6-2 decision. This is the second time in her illustrious career she has won a match in which she got blanked in a set, joining a 0-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory over then-No. 79 Miranda Ramirez at Syracuse on April 9, 2017.
Perez-Somarriba will be back in action Thursday—the time remains to be determined—in the Round of 32 against either No. 50 Angela Kulikov of USC or No. 51 Martina Kudelova of Florida Atlantic.
For more information on the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, including the tournament draws and live scoring links, click HERE.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
WEDNESDAY RESULT
Singles Main Draw – Round of 64
No. 2 [5] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) def. No. 40 Alana Smith (ST), 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
Singles Main Draw – Round of 32
Time TBD: No. 2 [5] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) vs. TBD
