DURHAM – The Duke women's tennis program is back in action for the first time in over two weeks, as four Blue Devils will head to Charleston, S.C., for the 2021 ITA All-American Championships, from Oct. 6-10.
Three Blue Devils -- seniors
Kelly Chen and
Georgia Drummy and junior
Chloe Beck -- will compete in the 32-player singles draw. Beck will also be in action in the 32-team doubles bracket, teaming up with sophomore
Karolina Berankova.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Singles and doubles action is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
Singles:
No. 5
Georgia Drummy (Duke) vs. TBA
No. 25
Kelly Chen (Duke) vs. No. 18 Salma Ewing (USC) – 9:30 a.m.
No. 28
Chloe Beck (Duke) vs. No. 22 Emma Antonaki (Mississippi State) – 9:45 a.m.
Doubles:
No. 2
Chloe Beck/
Karolina Berankova (Duke) vs. Elaine Chervinsky/Melodie Collard (Virginia) - TBA
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Devils split to compete in two separate events, with some seeing action at the Fall Ranked Spotlight in Cary, N.C., while others would play at the Kitty Harrison Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Beck earned the win of the weekend at the Fall Ranked Spotlight, defeating Ohio State's seventh-ranked Irina Cantos, 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8). Beck would cap her day off with a ranked doubles win, with partner
Emma Jackson, beating No. 31 Diana Khodan/Isabella Pfennig (Miami) 6-4.
At the Kitty Harrison Invitational, the Blue Devils saw several top finishes, as Chen reached the semifinals in singles. In addition,
Ellie Coleman and
Eliza Omirou turned in a strong effort as a duo in doubles, reaching the third-place match, with wins over opponents from Old Dominion and LSU.
WELCOME BACK
The Blue Devils are back in action following a successful 2020-21 season. Duke compiled a record of 18-7 and 9-4 in the ACC, reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal. The Blue Devils defeated six ranked teams, including three in the top-10, with wins over No. 8 Baylor and No. 9 UCF in the NCAA Tournament.
The top three singles players from last season are all back, as seniors
Kelly Chen and
Georgia Drummy and junior
Chloe Beck will anchor the 2021-22 unit. Beck will also have her doubles partner, sophomore
Karolina Berankova, back for a second full season after reaching a height of No. 9 in the nation last season.
NEW FACES
The Blue Devils are welcoming several new faces to the team this season. Freshmen
Ellie Coleman (Midland, Mich.) and
Emma Jackson (La Grange, Ill.) will make their collegiate debuts this fall. In addition, graduate student
Eliza Omirou (Nicosia, Cyprus/Wake Forest) comes to Durham after four seasons at Wake Forest, where she was a 2020 ITA All-American in doubles and reached a high of No. 9 in the nation.
MILESTONE WATCH
Chen needs 10 more singles or doubles victories to reach 200 in her decorated Blue Devils tenure. Chen has compiled a career mark of 112-38 in singles and 78-42 record in doubles.
DUKE IN THE INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Duke features three ranked student-athletes in singles – Drummy (5), Chen (25), Beck (28). The Blue Devils also have three doubles teams on the national list – Beck/Berankova are No. 2, Bilokin/Omirou at No. 24, and Chen/Coleman at No. 49.
CHEN VERSUS RANKED
Now in her fifth season with the Blue Devils, Chen has collected a 112-38 singles record. Of the 112 wins, 45 of them have come against ranked opponents. Chen's 112 career wins currently rank in a tie for 13th on the Duke charts with Kristin Sanderson and she will move into a tie for 12th with Patti O'Reilly (114) with two more victories.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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#GoDuke