Baylor University Team Page

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – After six straight wins to open the fall season, Baylor women’s tennis player Ema Burgic was beaten in the opening round of singles play in the ITA All-American Championships main draw on Thursday at the Riviera Tennis Club.

Playing her seventh match in six days, the sophomore, who had won five straight over ranked opponents, finally lost a match in California to seventh-ranked Zoe Scandalis of USC, 6-1, 6-1.

“It was a tough day,” head coach Joey Scrivano said. “There is no question that Ema has played a lot of tennis and that she is physically tired. However, she also faced a player today that is one of the elite players in college tennis. The match was a great chance for Ema to see what she has to do to become one of the elite players.”

To open the day Burgic and partner Jordaan Sanford were beaten in the first round of the doubles main draw by Duke’s 19th-ranked Beatrice Capra and Hanna Mar, 8-6. Despite squandering some early break chances and Sanford struggling to hold serve, the BU duo pushed the highly-ranked Blue Devil tandem.

“Ema and Jordaan started off the day with some great opportunities to get a lead in their match, but they let some opportunities slip,” Scrivano said. “The positive side of it is that even with the missed chances the girls were right there.”

Both Burgic and the doubles team will be back in action at the ITA All-American on Friday in the consolation bracket.