MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The UTSA Roadrunners defeated the ninth-seeded UAB Blazers 4-3 on Thursday, Apr. 17, at the Leftwich Tennis Center in Memphis, Tenn. In the first round of the 2025 American Athletic Conference Women’s Tennis Championship.
With the win, the Roadrunners advance to the quarterfinals, where they will take on the first-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls at 9 a.m. on Friday, Apr. 18, at the Leftwich Tennis Center in Memphis, Tenn.
The Roadrunners are now 19-4 with a singles record of 74-32. UTSA now has a doubles record of 38-21. This was the second time the Roadrunners defeated UAB in a conference tournament, as they defeated them in 2023 in the Conference USA Championship.
Match 23
The Roadrunners fell behind in doubles play, losing 6-1 on No. 1. On No. 2, Valeria Sanchez and Arina Babenko won 6-3 to force the deciding point. At No. 3, Aoka Nagasawa and Natalia Castaneda Guerrero gave UTSA a 1-0 lead, winning on No. 3.
To open singles play, UAB took a 2-1 lead as they won on No. 2 and No. 5. UAB was able to go up 3-1 by winning on No. 6. Babenko got ahold of the Roadrunners second point of the match as she won 7-5, 7-5 on No. 4.
To force a deciding match, Letizia Corsini won on No. 1 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) to even the match at 3-3. Vittoria Baccino came in clutch once again for the Roadrunners as she grabbed the victory for UTSA on No. 3, winning 5-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2.
Match 23: UTSA 4, UAB 3
Apr. 17, 2025
Leftwich Tennis Center
Memphis, Tenn.
Singles
1. Letizia Corsini (UTSA) def. Vanessa Mellynchuk (UAB) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Kristyna Damaskova (UAB) def. Ekua Youri (UTSA) 6-1, 6-3
3. Vittoria Baccino (UTSA) def. Klara Kajabova (UAB) 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-2
4. Arina Babenko (UTSA) def. Mackenzie White (UAB) 7-5, 7-5
5. Enya Ratkic (UAB) def. Valeria Sanchez (UTSA) 6-3, 7-5
6. Nera Tesankic (UAB) def. Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (UTSA) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Vanessa Mellynchuk/Mackenzie White (UAB) def. Ekua Youri/Letizia Corsini (UTSA) 6-1
2. Valeria Sanchez/Arina Babenko (UTSA) def. Kristyna Damaskova/Nera Tesankic (UAB) 6-3
3. Aoka Nagasawa/Natalia Castaneda Guerrero (UTSA) def. Enya Ratkic/Maria Paz Ospina (UAB) 7-5
Records: UTSA 19-4, UAB 14-9
Order of finish: Doubles: (1,2,3); Singles: (2,5,6,2,1,3)
-UTSA-