Florida women’s tennis wrapped up play on Saturday at the ITA Women’s All-American Championships in Cary, North Carolina.
The Gators were represented by five athletes in the first tournament of the fall season, with two athletes qualifying for the singles main draw.
UF sophomore Gabia Paskauskas logged the longest run in the competition for the Gators. Paskauskas earned a qualifying spot for the singles main draw in round 64 due to preseason rankings. She advanced to the round of 32 after defeating former teammate Anna Zyryanova in three sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-3). However, Paskauskas fell to Michigan junior Piper Charney in straight sets to end her main draw bid.
Florida’s sophomore continued competing in the consolation rounds, advancing to the Round of 16 before she was forced to withdraw due to injury.
UF junior Valery Gynina also made an appearance in the singles main draw. Following two ranked wins in the qualifiers, Gynina faced Oklahoma senior Julia Garcia Ruiz in the Round of 64. After losing the first set, Gynina rallied to win the second set 7-5, but ultimately, her comeback fell short and she was eliminated from the main draw.
Gynina continued playing in the consolation rounds. She won her match against UCLA freshman Mayu Crossley to advance to the Round of 32, where she fell to Stanford freshman Alyssa Ahn in three sets.
In the pre-qualifying rounds, the Gators kicked off the tournament 3-0 in singles.
Sophomore Nikola Daubnerova, Florida’s only returning player this season, was up first. Daubnerova faced North Carolina State junior Jasmine Conway, winning in straight sets 7-6, 7-6. Daubnerova defeated Illinois senior McKenna Schaefbauer in straight sets in the Round of 128 before falling to Washington’s Jermine Sherif to end her tournament run.
Florida senior Xinyi Nong, a Miami transfer, advanced to the Round of 128 after her opponent, Princeton senior Eva Elbaz, retired early in the match due to injury. She then defeated TCU senior Yu-Chin Tsai in the next round before being eliminated from the tournament by Kansas freshman Sandugash Kenzhibayeva.
Meanwhile, freshman Lucie Pawlak secured the first win of her collegiate career against LSU junior Kenna Erickson. She faltered at first, losing the first set 3-6, before pulling off a comeback to win the next two sets 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the next round. Pawlak defeated Penn State junior Maelie Monfils in straight sets before suffering a loss to UNC Charlotte sophomore Prisca Abbas in the Round of 64.
On the doubles side, Paskauskas and Gynina defeated Utah junior Emma Kamper and senior Emmie Moore in the pre-qualifying round. However, the pair failed to reach the qualifying rounds, falling to Clemson senior Romana Cisovska and sophomore Candela Yecora.
Daubnerova and Nong represented the Gators in the qualifying doubles draw. The pair reached the Round of 32 before Oklahoma’s Roisin Gilheany and Gloriana Nahum defeated them 6-3, 3-6, 10-5 to end their run.
The Gators will continue fall play on Oct. 16 in the ITA Southeast Regional Championships in Lake Nona, Florida.
Contact Nicole Lopez at nlopez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lopeznicole715.
Nicole is a sophomore journalism student and the women's tennis beat reporter for the fall semester. In her free time, she enjoys reading, collecting records and spending time with her friends and family.
