Murray State Tennis kicked off the 2026 season with an impressive 6-1 victory over Cumberland, marking the team’s 13th consecutive win. They dominated the doubles matches right from the start. The first pair secured a solid 6-1 win, and the Racers locked in the doubles point with victories on Courts 3 and 2 as well.
Spurred by their doubles success, the Racers entered singles play with confidence. Freshman Sofia Issakova lit up the court, winning her match 6-0, 6-2. Valeria Chaikovskaia followed suit with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 triumph. Yuna Kadowaki sealed the match for Murray State, winning 6-3, 6-0 on Court 4.
Cumberland managed to score one point on Court 3, where Bruna Melato faced a tough defeat. Yu Kikawa and Rebecca Widan rounded out the victory for the Racers, both securing straight-set wins on Courts 5 and 6.
Doubles Results:
- Valeria Chaikovskaia/Sofia Issakova (MSU) def. Madeleine Darud/Asya Timur (CU) 6-1
- Yuna Kadowaki/Barbora Hermanova (MSU) def. Juanita Mendez/Valentina Mendez (CU) 7-5
- Yu Kikawa/Molly Null (MSU) def. Maria Arbelaez/Ame Van Eijk (CU) 6-4
Singles Results:
- Valeria Chaikovskaia (MSU) def. Asya Timur (CU) 6-1, 6-2
- Sofia Issakova (MSU) def. Maria Arbelaez (CU) 6-0, 6-2
- Elina Sungatullina (CU) def. Bruna Melato (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
- Yuna Kadowaki (MSU) def. Valentina Mendez (CU) 6-3, 6-0
- Yu Kikawa (MSU) def. Ame Van Eijk (CU) 6-2, 6-2
- Rebecca Widan (MSU) def. Madeleine Darud (CU) 6-0, 6-0
The Racers are on a roll, and this victory continues to build their momentum. As of now, they rank highly in the region, inspiring talks about potential post-season success. With a talented lineup and strong teamwork, the Racers look forward to what this season holds.
According to the latest sports statistics, teams that maintain a winning streak of over ten matches tend to have improved chances in conference championships. It’ll be exciting to see how the Racers capitalize on their current form as the season progresses.
