Oct. 6, 2005
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – The No. 3 University of New Mexico doubles team of Maja Kovacek and Iva Gersic move on to the quarterfinals of the doubles main draw at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships after defeating the No. 19 ranked Indiana team of Sarah Batty and Laura McGaffigan 9-7 today in the first round of competition.
Kovacek and Gersic will face Zsuzsanna Fodor and Suzi Babos of California tomorrow. Babos is No. 2 in the nation as a singles player and was defeated at last weekend’s Cal Berkeley Invite by New Mexico’s No. 30 Kovacek. Fodor and Babos as a doubles team are not ranked in the preseason polls.
Earlier today, Kovacek also competed in the first round of the singles main draw. She fell to USC’s Amanda Fink 6-3, 6-4 and will now play in the consolation draw starting tomorrow. Kovacek is slated to play No. 12 Fodor from the same Cal doubles team Kovacek and Gersic will be competing against.
Gersic is no longer in singles competition as she lost yesterday in the second round of the qualifying consolation draw to Georgia Tech’s Kelly Anderson, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
New Mexico head coach Kathy Kolankiewicz was pleased with the amount of determination Kovacek and Gersic showed in their doubles match as they were forced to come from behind to grab the win.
“It was one of the greatest comebacks of their doubles career,” said Kolankiewicz. “It’s great to get a win at the All-American because the level of competition is at its highest here.”
For more information on the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships visit www.itatennis.com.
Today’s Results
First Round of Doubles Main Draw
No. 3 Kovacek/Gersic (UNM) def. No. 19 Batty/McGaffigan (Indiana) 9-7
First Round of Singles Main Draw
Amanda Fink (USC) def. Maja Kovacek (UNM) 6-3, 6-4