CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Purdue women's tennis team traveled to Illinois on the tail end of a back-to-back day weekend getaway, losing in a nail biter to the Fighting Illini 4-3.
Purdue started the match off strong, taking a 1-0 lead into singles play after clinching the doubles point. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin and Zala Dovnik dominated the match at No. 2 against Emilee Duong and Sasha Belaya 6-2. Ena Babic and Csilla Fodor outdueled Asuka Kawai and Josie Frazier at No. 1 6-4, giving the duo a 8-2 overall doubles record and a 4-1 Big Ten record this season.
After Purdue losses at No. 5 and No. 4 in straight sets, Csilla Fodor knotted the match score up at 2 apiece, beating Kate Duong in straight sets at No. 2 6-4, 6-3.
Illinois snatched the lead back with a win at No. 3, forcing the Boilermakers to win the remaining matches at No. 6 and No. 1 in order to take the match.
Nathalia Wolf Gasparin split her first two sets against Emily Casati at No. 6. The Brazilian international tied the match score back up at 3 apiece by securing the third set, winning by a match score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
At No. 1, Ena Babic dropped her first set to No. 107 Asuka Kawai, but forced her way back in the match with a gritty 7-5 victory in the second set. The senior put up a tough fight, but just didn't have enough to finish it off, losing the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The win puts Illinois one game ahead in the all-time series with the Boilermakers at 32-31. Purdue is able to tie the series back up when the Fighting Illini travel to Purdue on April 11th.
The Boilermakers come back home in another Saturday-Sunday pair of Big Ten matches, taking on Maryland on Saturday and Rutgers on Sunday. Both matches are scheduled for noon.
PURDUE (3-8, 3-8) – 3, ILLINOIS (5-6, 5-6) – 4
SINGLES
1. No. 107 Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. Ena Babic (PUR) – 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Kate Duong (ILL) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Emilee Duong (ILL) def. Zala Dovnik (PUR) – 6-2, 6-4
4. Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Seira Shimizu (PUR) – 6-1, 6-3
5. Josie Frazier (ILL) def. Rut Galindo (PUR) – 6-2, 6-2
6. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin (PUR) def. Emily Casati (ILL) – 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Ena Babic/Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Asuka Kawai/Josie Frazier (ILL) – 6-4
2. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin/Zala Dovnik (PUR) def. Emilee Duong/Sasha Belaya (ILL) – 6-2
3. Seira Shimizu/Rut Galindo (PUR) vs. Ashley Yeah/Kate Duong (ILL) – 5-4, unfinished
Order of Finish
Singles: 5,4,2,3,6,1
Doubles: 2,1
FOLLOW ALONG
For all the latest scores, stats and stories surrounding Purdue Women's Tennis, follow the team on Facebook (/PurdueWomensTennis), Twitter (@PurdueWTennis) and Instagram (@PurdueWTennis).
Purdue started the match off strong, taking a 1-0 lead into singles play after clinching the doubles point. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin and Zala Dovnik dominated the match at No. 2 against Emilee Duong and Sasha Belaya 6-2. Ena Babic and Csilla Fodor outdueled Asuka Kawai and Josie Frazier at No. 1 6-4, giving the duo a 8-2 overall doubles record and a 4-1 Big Ten record this season.
After Purdue losses at No. 5 and No. 4 in straight sets, Csilla Fodor knotted the match score up at 2 apiece, beating Kate Duong in straight sets at No. 2 6-4, 6-3.
Illinois snatched the lead back with a win at No. 3, forcing the Boilermakers to win the remaining matches at No. 6 and No. 1 in order to take the match.
Nathalia Wolf Gasparin split her first two sets against Emily Casati at No. 6. The Brazilian international tied the match score back up at 3 apiece by securing the third set, winning by a match score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
At No. 1, Ena Babic dropped her first set to No. 107 Asuka Kawai, but forced her way back in the match with a gritty 7-5 victory in the second set. The senior put up a tough fight, but just didn't have enough to finish it off, losing the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
The win puts Illinois one game ahead in the all-time series with the Boilermakers at 32-31. Purdue is able to tie the series back up when the Fighting Illini travel to Purdue on April 11th.
The Boilermakers come back home in another Saturday-Sunday pair of Big Ten matches, taking on Maryland on Saturday and Rutgers on Sunday. Both matches are scheduled for noon.
PURDUE (3-8, 3-8) – 3, ILLINOIS (5-6, 5-6) – 4
SINGLES
1. No. 107 Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. Ena Babic (PUR) – 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Kate Duong (ILL) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Emilee Duong (ILL) def. Zala Dovnik (PUR) – 6-2, 6-4
4. Ashley Yeah (ILL) def. Seira Shimizu (PUR) – 6-1, 6-3
5. Josie Frazier (ILL) def. Rut Galindo (PUR) – 6-2, 6-2
6. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin (PUR) def. Emily Casati (ILL) – 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. Ena Babic/Csilla Fodor (PUR) def. Asuka Kawai/Josie Frazier (ILL) – 6-4
2. Nathalia Wolf Gasparin/Zala Dovnik (PUR) def. Emilee Duong/Sasha Belaya (ILL) – 6-2
3. Seira Shimizu/Rut Galindo (PUR) vs. Ashley Yeah/Kate Duong (ILL) – 5-4, unfinished
Order of Finish
Singles: 5,4,2,3,6,1
Doubles: 2,1
FOLLOW ALONG
For all the latest scores, stats and stories surrounding Purdue Women's Tennis, follow the team on Facebook (/PurdueWomensTennis), Twitter (@PurdueWTennis) and Instagram (@PurdueWTennis).