Florida Gators
Riviera All-American-Qual 1of2
Berecz and Srebrovic Advance at W-Tennis Riviera/ITA All-American Championships
Wednesday, October 5, 2005 | Women's Tennis
The University of Florida's Boglarka Berecz and Diana Srebrovic each won two singles matches and advanced to the round of 16 at the qualifying draw for the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.
Berecz netted the biggest upset of the day, eliminating the event's No. 2-seeded Catrina Thompson from Notre Dame 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the first round and led 6-2, 3-1 in her second round match against Washington's Dinka Hadzic, who retired at that stage, as Berecz collected her 70th career singles victory.
Srebrovic, ranked No. 34 in the nation and the No. 5 seed in the 64-player singles draw, began with an impressive 6-0, 6-3 victory over Stanford's Celia Durkin and then downed UCLA's Laura Gordon 6-2, 6-1.
Berecz takes on USC's Dianne Matias in the third round, while Srebrovic faces Georgia Tech's Tarryn Rudman. The winners of Wednesday's matches move into the main draw of the collegiate Grand Slam which begins Thursday at the Riviera Country Club.
“Diana came out and played like she was on a mission,” UF associate head coach Dave Balogh said. “Boglarka trailed her first round match 3-0 in the second set after losing the first and then 3-0 again in the third set, but she was so determined to win. She had a great day.”
Sophomore Whitney Benik, ranked No. 93 in the country, earned the biggest win of her young career, defeating No. 13-seeded and 44th-ranked Ashlee Davis of Wake Forest 6-1, 6-3 in the opening round. Prior to Tuesday's win the highest-ranked foe Benik had defeated was ranked No. 81. Unfortunately, Benik lost her second round bout 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3) to BYU's Lauren Jones.
UF junior Nina Suvak dropped a tough 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 decision to Baylor's Carolin Walter, the event's No. 4 seed, but rallied and won her first round consolation match against Arizona State's Jessica Leitch 6-3, 6-2.
“Both Whitney and Nina had opportunities to win their matches, they just didn't capitalize,” Balogh said.
In doubles action, the Gator duo of Benik and Suvak defeated Baylor's Daniela Covello and Caroline Walter 8-5 in the first round, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit. The tandem of Berecz and sophomore Lolita Frangulyan also started slow and fought their way back from a 5-2 hole and topped UCLA's Laura Gordon and Alex McGoodwin 8-6 in Tuesday's first round. Both Gator pairs in the 32-team doubles draw are aiming to earn two of four slots in the main draw, needing to win two matches on Wednesday to advance.
Last year, Whitney Benik and Lolita Frangulyan paired together and emerged from the pre-qualifying draw to take home the doubles crown.
Riviera/ITA All-American Championships Qualifying
Riviera Country Club
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
UF Player Results Only
Singles First Round (round of 64)
Diana Srebrovic (No. 5 seed), Florida def. Celia Durkin, Stanford 6-0, 6-3
Whitney Benik, Florida def. Ashlee Davis (13), Wake Forest 6-1, 6-3
Caroline Walter (4), Baylor def. Nina Suvak, Florida 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Boglarka Berecz, Florida def. Catrina Thompson (2), Notre Dame 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5
Singles Second Round (round of 32)
Diana Srebrovic (5), Florida def. Laura Gordon, UCLA 6-2, 6-1
Lauren Jones, BYU def. Whitney Benik, Florida 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Boglarka Berecz, Florida def. Dinka Hadzic, Washington 6-2, 3-1 ret.
Consolation Singles First Round (round of 32)
Nina Suvak, Florida def. Jessica Leitch, Arizona State 6-3, 6-2
Doubles First Round (round of 32)
Whitney Benik/Nina Suvak (4), Florida def. Daniela Covello/Carolin Walter, Baylor 8-5
Boglarka Berecz/Lolita Frangulyan (8), Florida def. Laura Gordon/Alex McGoodwin, UCLA 8-6
END OF REPORT
