SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Haverford College women's tennis team wrapped up its performance at the Swarthmore Invitational on Saturday, facing Stevens and Franklin & Marshall on the Faulkner Courts at Swarthmore College.
First-year Lucy King and senior Rachael Fitzgerald delivered standout performances throughout the weekend, each finishing 3-0 in singles play and combining for an overall 5-1 record.
Vs. Franklin & Marshall
Lucy King secured a comeback victory against Sahara Ahmad of the Diplomats, overcoming a first-set loss to dominate the second set 6-0, before clinching the match in a super tiebreaker, 12-10. Rachael Fitzgerald also posted a commanding win, defeating Jenna Harrison in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
Abhishree Menon rallied for a thrilling victory against Isabel Benitez. After dropping the first set 2-6, Menon edged out Benitez in a second-set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5), and sealed the match in the super tiebreaker 12-10 for a 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (12-10) win.
In doubles action, the team of Fitzgerald and Menon cruised past Sophia Rhazali and Mackenzie Sherman, winning 8-3. However, Mallika Reddy and King were narrowly defeated by Natalie Untermeyer and Lorena Saavedra in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (7-4).
Vs. Stevens
Against the Ducks, King earned a straightforward win over Alix Dry, prevailing 6-4, 6-2. Fitzgerald followed up with another strong performance, beating Milagros Carbajal Diaz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Meanwhile, Reddy dropped a hard-fought match to Sude Aytekin, winning the first set 6-4 before Aytekin rallied with a 6-0 second set and a 10-3 super tiebreaker victory. Menon pushed Emma Eguia to a first-set tiebreak but ultimately fell in straight sets.
In doubles, Haverford claimed two wins. The King/Reddy pairing edged Dry and Stephanie Untermeyer 8-7 (7-4), while Fitzgerald and Menon posted an 8-5 win over Julianna Gomez and Lorena Piegas.
The Haverford women's tennis team will return to action this weekend at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship, hosted by the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. The tournament runs from Saturday, September 21 through Monday, September 23.