TULSA -- After big wins on Thursday, both Chie Hayasaka and Elizaveta Ezhova will advance to the singles round of 32 of the Wilson ITA Division I Central Regional Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla. on Friday.
Hayasaka beat Wichita State's Anna Egorova in a tough three-game set (7-6, 1-6, 7-5). The Japan native was down five games to one early, but proved her resiliency by coming back and winning the next seven games.
"[Chie's] performance today was outstanding and very impressive," said head coach Craig Manning. "She played against a really good tennis player from a very good Wichita State team."
Ezhova continued to carry her success from the qualifying matches on Wednesday to win a 6-4, 7-6 match against Yuliana Svistan from Kansas. Currently on a straight three-match win, Manning is impressed with his young player's performance.
"[Elizaveta] is very talented," said Manning. "She's very young, learning rapidly at the moment and doing a great job."
In doubles action, veteran Anastasia Surkova found early success with her partner Elle Carney as they sailed to an easy 8-1 victory over a Kansas duo. As the No. 4 seed in the tournament, Carney and Surkova will prepare to face the No. 9 seed from New Mexico tomorrow.
Action will resume at 9:00 a.m. with the singles round of 32. The doubles round of 16 will begin at noon.
RESULTS
S. Dalmico (WSU) def. E. Carney (BYU) 6-1, 6-2
N. Airpetian (Ark) def. K. Doerr (BYU) 6-4, 6-1
E. Ezhova (BYU) def. Y. Svistan (KU) 6-4, 7-6
C. Hayasaka (BYU) def. A. Egorova (WSU) 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Doubles
Kwok and Monson (Utah) def. Hayasaka and Jensen (BYU) 8-3
Kichoutkin and Zabaleta (TU) def. Chang and Doerr (BYU) 8-5
Carney and Surkova (BYU) def. Dorn and Martinez (KU) 8-1