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Jackson Advances at NCAA Singles Championship
11/19/2024 9:33:00 PM | Women's Tennis
WACO, Texas – In her second appearance in the NCAA Singles Championship, Duke women's tennis senior Emma Jackson made the most of her opportunity on Tuesday as she claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Oklahoma's Alina Shcherbinina in the round of 64 at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco.
A product of La Grange Park, Ill., Jackson opened the match Tuesday evening by winning her first three service games, before breaking Shcherbinina to take a 4-2 advantage. She ended up holding serve, breaking and holding serve to clinch the first set, 6-3.
In the second set, Jackson dropped the first game, before holding serve to get on the board. She then broke Shcherbinina and won the next game to take a 3-1 lead. Shcherbinina came back to even the score, 3-3, but Jackson responded by winning two games to take a 5-3 lead. Once again, Shcherbinina made a run of her own by winning three games to take her first lead of the match, 6-5. Jackson held serve to even the set, 6-6.
Shcherbinina had a strong start to the tiebreaker by winning the first two points, but then Jackson turned in an impressive run by winning six straight points to go ahead, 6-2. Jackson then clinched her first NCAA singles win with a 7-3 tiebreaking victory. The win for Jackson was the 75th of her collegiate career.
"Yeah, it meant a lot to be here today," said Jackson. "I am really excited to be here in the last chance I have to be here as a senior. Especially, in this new format a lot different. Just happy to be here, happy to be competing in my final season."
Next up for Jackson in the round of 32 will be 12th-ranked Julia Fliegner of Michigan on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Duke sophomore Eleana Yu opened the day for the Blue Devils against 10th-ranked Sarah Hamner of South Carolina. Yu, who hails from Mason, Ohio, held a 4-2 advantage early and dropped a key deuce point, before falling, 7-6 (8-6), in the first set. In the second set, Yu fell, 6-4, to conclude her fall season with an impressive 7-3 ledger.
One of only three freshmen to compete in both NCAA singles and doubles, Irina Balus dropped her match, 6-2, 7-5, to Oklahoma's 16th-ranked Julia Garcia Ruiz.
Duke sophomore Shavit Kimchi started the evening session off for the Blue Devils against ninth-ranked Nicole Khirin of Texas A&M. Khirin opened with a 2-0 advantage, but Kimchi came back to win seven straight games to take the first set, 6-3. With a 6-1 ledger, Khirin won the second set to send the match to a third set. Kimchi, who hails from Sdey Hemed, Israel, fell behind 4-1 early, but stormed back to even the match, 4-4. After falling behind, 5-4, Kimchi held serve to once again even the score, 5-5. Khirin won a key deuce point take a 6-5 lead and won a deuce point once again to clinch the match with a 7-5 victory.
In doubles play, Balus and Ellie Coleman kick off their play on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. (ET).
All matches will be streamed on ESPN+ with Cracked Racquets doing the broadcasts.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Nov. 19 Results
Singles – Round of 64
#10 Sarah Hamner (South Carolina) def. #73 Eleana Yu (Duke) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
#16 Julia Garcia Ruiz (Oklahoma) def. Irina Balus (Duke) 6-2, 7-5
#9 Nicole Khirin (Texas A&M) def. #38 Shavit Kimchi (Duke) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
#41 Emma Jackson (Duke) def. #56 Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
Nov. 20 Schedule
Singles – Round of 32
#41 Emma Jackson (Duke) vs. #12 Julia Fliegner (Michigan)
Doubles – Round of 32
Irina Balus/Ellie Coleman (Duke) vs. #23 Elza Tomase/Catherine Aulia (Tennessee) at 5:30 p.m.
A product of La Grange Park, Ill., Jackson opened the match Tuesday evening by winning her first three service games, before breaking Shcherbinina to take a 4-2 advantage. She ended up holding serve, breaking and holding serve to clinch the first set, 6-3.
In the second set, Jackson dropped the first game, before holding serve to get on the board. She then broke Shcherbinina and won the next game to take a 3-1 lead. Shcherbinina came back to even the score, 3-3, but Jackson responded by winning two games to take a 5-3 lead. Once again, Shcherbinina made a run of her own by winning three games to take her first lead of the match, 6-5. Jackson held serve to even the set, 6-6.
Shcherbinina had a strong start to the tiebreaker by winning the first two points, but then Jackson turned in an impressive run by winning six straight points to go ahead, 6-2. Jackson then clinched her first NCAA singles win with a 7-3 tiebreaking victory. The win for Jackson was the 75th of her collegiate career.
"Yeah, it meant a lot to be here today," said Jackson. "I am really excited to be here in the last chance I have to be here as a senior. Especially, in this new format a lot different. Just happy to be here, happy to be competing in my final season."
Next up for Jackson in the round of 32 will be 12th-ranked Julia Fliegner of Michigan on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Duke sophomore Eleana Yu opened the day for the Blue Devils against 10th-ranked Sarah Hamner of South Carolina. Yu, who hails from Mason, Ohio, held a 4-2 advantage early and dropped a key deuce point, before falling, 7-6 (8-6), in the first set. In the second set, Yu fell, 6-4, to conclude her fall season with an impressive 7-3 ledger.
One of only three freshmen to compete in both NCAA singles and doubles, Irina Balus dropped her match, 6-2, 7-5, to Oklahoma's 16th-ranked Julia Garcia Ruiz.
Duke sophomore Shavit Kimchi started the evening session off for the Blue Devils against ninth-ranked Nicole Khirin of Texas A&M. Khirin opened with a 2-0 advantage, but Kimchi came back to win seven straight games to take the first set, 6-3. With a 6-1 ledger, Khirin won the second set to send the match to a third set. Kimchi, who hails from Sdey Hemed, Israel, fell behind 4-1 early, but stormed back to even the match, 4-4. After falling behind, 5-4, Kimchi held serve to once again even the score, 5-5. Khirin won a key deuce point take a 6-5 lead and won a deuce point once again to clinch the match with a 7-5 victory.
In doubles play, Balus and Ellie Coleman kick off their play on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. (ET).
All matches will be streamed on ESPN+ with Cracked Racquets doing the broadcasts.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Nov. 19 Results
Singles – Round of 64
#10 Sarah Hamner (South Carolina) def. #73 Eleana Yu (Duke) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
#16 Julia Garcia Ruiz (Oklahoma) def. Irina Balus (Duke) 6-2, 7-5
#9 Nicole Khirin (Texas A&M) def. #38 Shavit Kimchi (Duke) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
#41 Emma Jackson (Duke) def. #56 Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
Nov. 20 Schedule
Singles – Round of 32
#41 Emma Jackson (Duke) vs. #12 Julia Fliegner (Michigan)
Doubles – Round of 32
Irina Balus/Ellie Coleman (Duke) vs. #23 Elza Tomase/Catherine Aulia (Tennessee) at 5:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
Eleana Yu Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Jame Ashworth Post Match vs. Auburn
Saturday, May 10
Ellie Coleman Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
Jamie Ashworth Post Match vs. FAU
Saturday, May 03
