The University of Denver women’s tennis team began its Summit League home schedule with a 6-1 win over South Dakota at the Denver Tennis Park on Saturday. The Pioneers, now 8-5 overall and 2-0 in league play, secured the victory by clinching five consecutive singles matches after quickly winning the doubles point.
In doubles play, Denver lost only two games across the two completed matches. The No. 3 pair of Zoe Adkins and Natálie Cinková improved to a 7-3 record this season with a 6-0 win, conceding just six points in their match and saving the only break point against them. Seniors Claudia Martinez de Velasco and Louise Wikander won at No. 2 doubles, losing just two games after establishing an early lead. The top doubles match featuring Marley Lambert and Yunfei Cai was left unfinished with Denver ahead.
During singles competition, Denver captured victories in five out of six matches, three in straight sets. Cinková started off with her seventh straight-set win of the dual season, dropping only three games to secure her match. Cai followed suit with her third consecutive win for DU.
Lambert clinched the dual for Denver at No. 2 singles by winning in straight sets after taking control midway through both sets. Senior Hana Bečirovič Novak earned a three-set victory after winning a decisive tiebreaker against Ketevan Shavishvili from South Dakota.
Adkins came back from a first set loss to defeat Anna Medvyedyeva in three sets at No. 3 singles, breaking serve late in the final set to complete her comeback.
South Dakota’s only point came at No. 1 singles when Selena Bird edged out Wikander in an extended match tiebreaker after Wikander suffered a fall but returned to finish the match.
The Pioneers will continue their Summit League schedule as they host their next home match on March 7 at Denver Tennis Park.
For more information about University of Denver athletics and updates on all NCAA Division I sports teams representing DU, visit https://denverpioneers.com/.
