Oparenovic Falls In First Round Of NCAA Singles

Singles Bracket

ATHENS, Ga. — Arkansas women’s tennis sophomore Ana Oparenovic was defeated in the first round of the NCAA singles championship by Estela Perez-Somarriba of the Miami Hurricanes on Wednesday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the University of Georgia campus.

Making her NCAA singles debut, No. 64 Oparenovic took the first set 6-1, but No. 40 Perez-Somarriba fought back to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-1 and advance to the round of 32.

“Today, Ana obviously got off to a fantastic start in her first NCAA appearance,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “To experience this environment as a sophomore is incredible for both her individual growth and the whole team’s energy heading into next season.”

Oparenovic finished this season with 15 overall singles wins, including nine at the No. 2 spot in the spring and four against ranked opponents.

“Ana has had an elite team and individual season, and she is going to be a force to be reckoned with entering her junior year,” Hegarty said.

Senior co-captain Shannon Hudson will also represent the Razorbacks on Wednesday. Originally scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, Hudson’s first-round singles match against No. 38 Caroline Doyle of Stanford will be played at 4 p.m. CT.