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Aleemay

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Posts posted by Aleemay

  1. 22 hours ago, texasstrong12 said:

    Interesting. From reading about Ovrootsky, it sounds like she could be a one and done talent. If she's a similar caliber player as Stearns last season feels like this team might even have a higher ceiling. 

    From an experience and talent perspective would it be crazy to say on paper this team might actually be better than last year's team? 

    For the second assessment, on paper I'd argue last year's team was better. Tijana, Lulu, Anna and Marta are the four who have left the team from last year. Tijana and Marta were no slouch in doubles (Tijana was actually nationally ranked in doubles before COVID hit). Anna is Anna. Additionally it can't be understated what a huge recruit Lulu was to the program. She is hands down on paper the most accomplished recruit Texas has ever had in the Joffe era and probably his whole coaching career. Had the highest ITF junior ranking (somewhere in top 15). She not only played in all four junior grand slams but also had wins at each of those tournaments. To put it into perspective, Bianca Turati had 0 wins at the grand slams as a junior player.

    • Like 1
  2. Lulu fell a bit short today in the finals of the 25K in Spain. Lost to her former compatriot Masarova (former number 2 junior in the world).

    Here's Lulu's semifinal match against Lazaro (two time All American when she played in the NCAAs). Lulu beat her convincingly 2 and 2.

     

  3. It's been less than one month but some impressive results on the summer circuit-

    Kylie beat Montserrat Gonzalez (former top 200 player)

    Lulu beat Whitney Osuigwe (formerly ranked 105, still ranked in the 200s)

    Charlotte beat two former All Americans, Shapatava (former top 200) and the number one recruit in this year's class.

    Some of these opponents haven't had impressive results recently; it's still a feat to beat these pro players who have made Grand Slam Main Draws before

    If these results get TOO impressive, then Texas may be at risk for half the team turning pro early lol

    • Hook 'Em 1
  4. Peyton gave an excellent interview right after the QFs. Talked about her pre college experiences (wished she could have gone to high school), what improvements she has made to her game, Joffe helping her mental games, favorite Austin restaurants...

    Even if she turns pro, I think Texas is in good hands.

    Additionally, the Big 12 Player of the Year from OK State is transferring. One of Iowa State's player is doing an inter conference transfer to WVU. And Baylor is also losing a player to the transfer portal.

    • Hook 'Em 1
  5. Collins and Sun wins 0 and 1 against Morra and Daavettila of UNC. Gets All American Honors.

    Wear and tear of the past week must be taking its toll. Collins seemed like the only one of the four playing at 100% her level. Sun was walking into her shots and spinning her serve in (I'm guessing full body cramping?). Collins was amazing! 

    • Hook 'Em 2
  6. 1 hour ago, perfectchaos007 said:

    Stearns hasn't made it official, but I think she goes pro now. Chavatipon, Rapolu, and Collins will probably all stay. Sun is a 20 year old freshmen so I'm not sure where she stands, but would obviously be a big boost if she stays. The Zamarripa twins join the team next year which will be a solid doubles team, and potentially help in singles. Gonna be a challenge to repeat next year I think, but we'll still be one of the top teams. 

    Yeah- I was also shocked to see when Lulu came to Texas. Out of everyone on the roster, she was probably the most suited for the pro circuit. Extremely well known to tennisforum. Junior slam doubles finalist and number 13 Junior ranking. Had considerable pro success- won 2 15K and had multiple semis in the 25k. She also has the option to represent either Switzerland and New Zealand, two countries known to provide generous support to their tennis athletes. (I also my be wrong but someone on tennisforum was saying she's from a well off family)

    Joffe either recruited her really hard or she really wanted to have the college experience. I think she'll stays unless she starts winning multiple 25k's over the summer and fall.

  7. 6 minutes ago, Js1 said:

    I remember that. That was that one season coach, right? 

    Yep...

    This champ was won by this current team but huge props to all the players who stayed through the mess (Bree, Neda, etc.), the players who bought into Joffe's vision when there was nothing (Bianca, Poluta, Crovetti, etc.) and the former assistant coaches (Dolehide, Shaimaa). They laid the foundation for this team.

    • Hook 'Em 3
  8. 9 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

    They have depth similar to ours. Joffee essentially has 8 players to choose from for his lineup of 6 singles players. The 6th line usually goes to Labrana or Rapolu, but Marta-Perez Mur is also right there with them. Also speaks to the strength of our program when you consider Marta-Perez was a line 4 or 5 player her freshman year and now she is line 8 effectively. She hasn't gotten worse, but the talent on the team has soared to a very high level from a UTR perspective. 

    To second how good Marta is, she beat the second best player on the Baylor in the fall season. A shame half of her college career was COVID and ACL injury.

    UNC losing yesterday was a massive disappointment for them. To be fair, they were under massive pressure- anything less than a championship would have been considered an underachievement.

    Today's match will be tough. The only match I'd say we have a slight advantage may be at six (with either Labrana or Rapolu). Everything else is pretty even. Turati lost to Faila last year. Hopefully Peyton's good form continues. 

    • Hook 'Em 1
  9. 3 hours ago, perfectchaos007 said:

    @Aleemay why isn't Lexi Ryngler playing for Pepperdine? I see she's still on the roster.

    On the Cracked Rackets podcast, Pepperdine head coach Per Nilsson was saying how much injuries his team has had (with concerns of not fielding a full team). Lexi has had shoulder inflammation for most of this season. She has been in and out playing one match in March and then suddenly playing again in R32 against Stanford (and being soundly beaten). That's the scary thing of Pepperdine. They're not at 100% and yet they're STILL in the finals. Both Ryngler and Iamachinke would be in the top 6 singles lineup if fully healthy.

    • Hook 'Em 1
  10. If anything about reputation...there's an actual twitter thread going on right basically calling out the current Line 4 player at UF. One poster is showing multiple clips of him hooking different opponents. Present and past NCAA players have joined in.

  11. 1 hour ago, shadow_operative2.0 said:

    This is funny, from another board just now on a thread specifically titled ‘Longhorn Tennis’. 


    He’s apparently a S. Carolina fan. I asked him if he was bitter much. 

    I really have to second that ? on that thread. I may be some years removed from undergrad but never got that sense about Texas. If anything it was the old Baylor coach Matt Knoll that had an extremely bad reputation in the state. May be from judging from the outside but Berque seems a bit docile and mild mannered.

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