Gator Great Lisa Raymond's AUS Open Ends in QF
Wednesday, January 28, 2004 | Women's Tennis
While she might have been disappointed with the final outcome, former University of Florida women's tennis star Lisa Raymond made the Gator Nation proud with her thrilling run to the quarterfinal round of the 2004 Australian Open.
Unfortunately, Raymond's run 'Down Under' finally came to an end Wednesday morning, when she lost a tough 7-6 (2), 6-3 battle to Switzerland's Patty Schnyder, the No. 22 seed, at Rod Laver Arena.
This is the first time Raymond has advanced past the third round of the Australian Open in her 11 appearances. The showing also is tied for her best singles run in a Grand Slam event, having reached the 2000 Wimbledon quarterfinals.
A former-No. 1-ranked women's doubles player in the world, Raymond has enjoyed tremendous success on the doubles court where she has collected seven Grand Slam titles, three in women's doubles and four in mixed doubles.
Her run in the Mixed Doubles draw at the 2004 Australian Open also ended the quarterfinal round, where she and her partner, Kevin Ullyett (ZIM) lost to Nenad Zimonjic (SER) and Elena Bovina (RUS) 6-2, 6-4.
Raymond posted the tournament's biggest upset during the first week – and possibly the entire event – when she topped No. 3-seeded Venus Williams 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the third round. Raymond then defeated Tatiana Golovin from France 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the quarterfinal round.
Raymond, who is regarded as one of the top collegiate women's tennis players of all time, won the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Singles Championships before joining the professional tour. She was a first-ballot inductee into UF's Athletics Hall of Fame, where she was honored in 2003.
Raymond wasn't the only former Gator making news in Australia. Former UF head coach Andy Brandi, who retired from collegiate coaching in April 2001 as the all-time winningest coach (by percentage) in college history, is currently coaching Raymond.
Jill Craybas, who won the 1996 NCAA Singles Championship after leading the Gators to the team title that season, advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, her best showing ever in a Grand Slam event.
Jeff Morrison, who won the 1999 NCAA Men's Singles crown, played his way through the qualifying draw into the main draw, reaching the second round, where he lost to No. 2-seed Roger Federer.
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