Emma Dong dashed to court 1 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. A celebration erupted after Anastasiia Lopata secured her match, and Dong, fresh from her own victory, wanted to join in the fun.
Saturday’s showdown featured Georgia’s top-ranked women’s team against No. 4 Auburn. Earlier in the season, Georgia defeated Auburn 4-3 in a tight semifinal at the ITA National Indoor Championships, marking Auburn’s first loss. Since then, Auburn had been undefeated and hadn’t dropped a doubles point all season, boasting a flawless 25 wins.
But that streak ended on Saturday. Georgia claimed the doubles point with wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, quickly following up with straight-set victories in singles, sealing a commanding 4-0 win.
“It’s huge to win the doubles against a strong team that prides itself on doubles,” Georgia’s head coach, Drake Bernstein, shared.
At No. 2 doubles, Aysegul Mert and Deniz Dilek rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 against Auburn’s Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat. Meanwhile, at No. 1, Patricija Paukstyte and Lopata won 6-4, breaking the Tigers’ serve right away.
“I had no idea they hadn’t lost a doubles point all year,” Lopata admitted. “It was great to break that streak in front of our loud crowd.”
The atmosphere was electric, with hundreds of fans supporting the Bulldogs. Mert, ranked sixth, dominated her match against No. 55 Ekaterina Khaurutdin, winning decisively 6-1, 6-1. This victory contrasted sharply with their last encounter, where Mert won in a nail-biting three-set match.
“I studied film and had a solid game plan,” Mert explained. “I didn’t know I would execute it like this, but it really paid off.”
Freshman Dong also shone, winning her match 6-2, 6-2, bringing Georgia closer to a shutout. She has now won her last seven matches and holds a remarkable record of 12-1 in dual matches.
Bernstein noted the importance of staying grounded. “It’s easy for freshmen to assume success will continue. Dong has worked hard and remained competitive throughout.”
On the top court, Lopata faced off against former NCAA finalist DJ Bennett. After a close previous match, Lopata won this time decisively, 6-3, 6-2. With her victory, she celebrated a rare moment of joy, raising her fists before being swarmed by teammates.
Lopata, a senior focused on making the most of her last season, shared her mindset. “I’m trying to appreciate every moment without stressing too much.”
This season has required an adjustment for Lopata as she plays primarily at the No. 1 position after a stellar campaign at No. 2 last year. Bernstein praised her for returning to her game style. “She plays exceptional defense and knows when to attack.”
In sports, experts often emphasize mental resilience. The Bulldogs’ strong performance shows how mindset can shift outcomes.
The Bulldogs travel next weekend for matches against Arkansas and No. 9 Oklahoma, promising another exciting chapter in their season.
For further details on college tennis trends and stats, check out the ITA Rankings.
