SAN DIEGO, Calif. - After sweeping the first day in straight sets, Arizona State junior Gussie O'Sullivan was knocked out of the ITA Regional Championships in the round of 32 after a four-hour rain delay.
Making it as far as the round of 32 in a 128 draw was a great start to the season for O'Sullivan, who was participating in her first tournament since the spring.
"Today wasn't Gussie's best match and I know she is a little disappointed," assistant tennis coach Matt Langley said. "The rain delays before play were challenging, but I thought her preparation was as good as it could have been.
"She started a little tentatively and from there it was difficult to steady the momentum of the match and get back on even terms."
O'Sullivan felt the same way.
"Yesterday, I thought I played really well,” she said. “I got through two matches and the first of the year, so that was good to get the nerves out of the way. Today with the rain delay – I don’t want to make excuses – but I got off to a slow start. I felt I got better as the match went on, but it was too little too late.”
Pepperdine's Matea Cutura stood in O'Sullivan's way of making it to the round of 16. Cutura swept in straight sets, winning the first 1-6. In the second, Cutura broke out in front again 1-5, but O'Sullivan rallied to get it to 3-5. Cutura finished it, winning the second set 3-6.
Unfortunately, the regional tournament is not set up to have a consolation round and that ends her week in San Diego.
"I was proud of hte way she fought it out and overall she should take confidence from her first two matches of the tournament," Langley said. "I look forward to getting out on the practice court with her and improving before our next tournament."
O'Sullivan and the Sun Devils have two weeks off before their next tournament, as they'll head east for the Tennessee Fall Invitational in Knoxville.
RESULTS
128. ASU Gussie O'Sullivan d. Cal State Northridge Vivian Lin 6-2; 6-4
64. ASU Gussie O'Sullivan d. SDSU Dora Somoracz 6-2; 6-0
32. PEPP Matea Cutura d. ASU Gussie O'Sullivan 6-1; 6-3