Razorbacks Well Represented In National Rankings

TEMPE, Ariz. – Oracle and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the 2017 Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Women’s Division I Preseason Rankings on Tuesday.

In singles, three Arkansas players earned career-best rankings as junior Ana Oparenovic led the way at No. 36, while senior Leolia Jeanjean checked in at No. 62 and sophomore Giulia Pairone came in at No. 100.

Jeanjean and Pairone earned a No. 9 ranking in doubles, which is the fourth-highest among Southeastern Conference teams.

“It’s exciting to see so many of our players represented in the new national rankings,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “What is extra special is that all of these current rankings are career highs. It’s great to see our players continuing to create new heights for themselves.”

The ITA also unveiled official selections for the 2017 Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships, which will be hosted by the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, California, for the 34th straight year. The tournament kicks off with prequalifying matches starting on Sept. 30, while the main draw is Oct. 5-8.

Pairone and Jeanjean were among 19 pairs nationally selected to the main doubles draw. Jeanjean and Oparenovic will each compete in the qualifying singles draw, while Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic will participate in the prequalifying singles draw. Oparenovic and Jurasic will also team up for the prequalifying doubles draw.

After making her first career NCAA singles championship appearance last May, Oparenovic enters the fall with 30 singles victories over the past two seasons, including eight against nationally ranked opponents. Jeanjean is coming off an impressive junior campaign in which she led the Razorbacks with an 18-2 singles record, including a 7-1 mark in SEC action. Pairone, who reached the NCAA doubles championship round of 16 last season, finished the year with a 17-4 record in singles and an 11-7 mark in doubles. Jurasic enters her senior season as the Razorbacks’ active career leader in singles victories with 51. As a pair, Jurasic and Oparenovic have amassed 33 wins in doubles.

The 2017 fall campaign will begin Friday with select Razorbacks competing in the Midland Invitational in Midland, Texas, over the weekend.