Troy University Athletics
Kristina Kukaras Ranked No. 99 in ITA Top-125
11/19/2022 9:00:00 AM | Tennis (W)
TROY, Ala. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced its newest top-125 for singles competition on Saturday morning, ranking Kristina Kukaras No. 99.
"I'm very proud of Kristina," head coach Rawia Elsisi said. "It's well deserved, breaking into the top-125 ITA fall rankings. I am happy for Kristina for ending the fall season nationally ranked after an overall great performance during this fall."
Kukaras excelled in the fall season, with the Roberta Alison Fall Classic as the highlight. Through three days of action, the junior went a perfect 3-0 in singles to be crowned the winner of the Patti Farmer Singles Draw – first draw win in her career.
Her road to victory wasn't easy with her opening round set against Klara Milicevic from Alabama. Kukaras fell in the first set, 2-6, to the power-five opponent before retaliating with the 6-3 win. In the final set, both players battled until Kukaras got the separation in the end for the early upset, 10-8.
She followed up the win with a two-set sweep over in-state rival, South Alabama's Tereza Dejnozkova, 6-4, 6-3. Finally, the German native clinched the draw win over ETSU's Ralitsa Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-3.
Her first win in the fall season came in the opening tournament of the Georgia Southern Fall Shootout. Kukaras didn't allow a single point to go in favor of Emily Kantrovitz from Emory in the first, 6-0, before taking the second set, 7-5.
Arguably her most significant fall season win came in the round of 64 at the ITA Southern Regional. Here, Kukaras notched her second power-five win of the season. This time, it was over Mississippi State's Maria Rizzolo. Despite losing in the first set, 6-7, Kukaras fired back with back-to-back 6-4 set wins.
"I'm very proud of Kristina," head coach Rawia Elsisi said. "It's well deserved, breaking into the top-125 ITA fall rankings. I am happy for Kristina for ending the fall season nationally ranked after an overall great performance during this fall."
Kukaras excelled in the fall season, with the Roberta Alison Fall Classic as the highlight. Through three days of action, the junior went a perfect 3-0 in singles to be crowned the winner of the Patti Farmer Singles Draw – first draw win in her career.
Her road to victory wasn't easy with her opening round set against Klara Milicevic from Alabama. Kukaras fell in the first set, 2-6, to the power-five opponent before retaliating with the 6-3 win. In the final set, both players battled until Kukaras got the separation in the end for the early upset, 10-8.
She followed up the win with a two-set sweep over in-state rival, South Alabama's Tereza Dejnozkova, 6-4, 6-3. Finally, the German native clinched the draw win over ETSU's Ralitsa Alexandrova, 6-3, 6-3.
Her first win in the fall season came in the opening tournament of the Georgia Southern Fall Shootout. Kukaras didn't allow a single point to go in favor of Emily Kantrovitz from Emory in the first, 6-0, before taking the second set, 7-5.
Arguably her most significant fall season win came in the round of 64 at the ITA Southern Regional. Here, Kukaras notched her second power-five win of the season. This time, it was over Mississippi State's Maria Rizzolo. Despite losing in the first set, 6-7, Kukaras fired back with back-to-back 6-4 set wins.
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