SAN DIEGO – After missing nearly all of 2019 due to injury, Sasa Klanecek made her fall debut at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships Thursday and joined senior Savannah Slaysman in punching a ticket to the round of 32 in the tournament.
Klanecek received a first-round bye then managed to make a comeback on her second-round opponent from UC Riverside. She dropped a tight first set 5-7, but turned the tables in the second set, upending Tia Elpusan 6-3 before closing the match with a 6-2 win.
She'll face Eva Marie Voracek of Loyola Marymount Friday morning for a shot at the round of 16.
As for Slaysman, she won both of her matches in straight-sets, taking care of her opening round opponent 6-2, 7-6(5), then coming back to grab another 6-3, 6-4 win in round two.
Awaiting Slaysman in the round of 32 is the tournament's 16-seed Daria Kuczer of Pepperdine.
Slaysman's undefeated Thursday started off in the doubles bracket as she teamed up with Tereza Kolarova to advance to the round of 16 with an 8-4 win over a duo from Hawaii.
"Overall I was pleased with our play today," McInerney said. "Savannah and Terka started it off well with their doubles win and Savannah and Sasa followed that with two solid singles wins. I'm excited for the girls to compete again tomorrow."
The 2019 ITA Southwest Regional Championships continue Friday at 10 a.m. PT in San Diego.
First Round Singles
Savannah Slaysman def. Sarah Khattab (UCR), 6-2, 7-6(5)
Lillian Gabrielsen (LMU) def. Tereza Kolarova, 7-5, 7-6(7)
Second Round Singles
Sasa Klanecek def. Tia Elpusan (UCR), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Savannah Slaysman def. Nevada Apollo (LMU), 6-3, 6-4
First Round Doubles
Kolarova/Slaysman def. Nikola Dolakova/Michelle Pits (Hawaii), 8-4
Klanecek received a first-round bye then managed to make a comeback on her second-round opponent from UC Riverside. She dropped a tight first set 5-7, but turned the tables in the second set, upending Tia Elpusan 6-3 before closing the match with a 6-2 win.
She'll face Eva Marie Voracek of Loyola Marymount Friday morning for a shot at the round of 16.
As for Slaysman, she won both of her matches in straight-sets, taking care of her opening round opponent 6-2, 7-6(5), then coming back to grab another 6-3, 6-4 win in round two.
Awaiting Slaysman in the round of 32 is the tournament's 16-seed Daria Kuczer of Pepperdine.
Slaysman's undefeated Thursday started off in the doubles bracket as she teamed up with Tereza Kolarova to advance to the round of 16 with an 8-4 win over a duo from Hawaii.
"Overall I was pleased with our play today," McInerney said. "Savannah and Terka started it off well with their doubles win and Savannah and Sasa followed that with two solid singles wins. I'm excited for the girls to compete again tomorrow."
The 2019 ITA Southwest Regional Championships continue Friday at 10 a.m. PT in San Diego.
First Round Singles
Savannah Slaysman def. Sarah Khattab (UCR), 6-2, 7-6(5)
Lillian Gabrielsen (LMU) def. Tereza Kolarova, 7-5, 7-6(7)
Second Round Singles
Sasa Klanecek def. Tia Elpusan (UCR), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Savannah Slaysman def. Nevada Apollo (LMU), 6-3, 6-4
First Round Doubles
Kolarova/Slaysman def. Nikola Dolakova/Michelle Pits (Hawaii), 8-4