Kata Szekely
| School: |
University of Tennessee |
| Year: |
graduated |
| Home Town: |
Szekesfehervar |
| Home State: |
|
| Home Country: |
Hungary |
| High School: |
Janos Kodolanyi High School |
| Height: |
5-6 |
| Weight: |
|
| Birth Date: |
Tuesday, September 19, 1989 |
| Dominant Hand: |
Left |
| Major: |
Undergraduate Studies |
| Singles Record: |
17-3 |
| Doubles Record: |
16-5 |
AS A SENIOR (2012-13)
Singles
Currently holds a four-match win streak after two wins at the ITA Kickoff in Lincoln, Neb. (1/27)
Went 2-1 during the UVA Winter Invitational falling only to #72 Tereza Bekerova of Utah (1/19)
Defeated No. 81 Francesca Segarelli of Florida State in a three set battle, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 at the Furman Classic
Lost in doubles match with Brynn Boren against Duke, 6-4, 6-4 at ITA
Defeated team member and No. 18 ranked Brynn Boren in singles final of the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, 6-4, 6-2 (10/22)
Suffered singles loss against Georgia State's Abigail Tere-Apisah 6-2, 7-5, at the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships (10/22)
Defeated Nadia Ravita of Kentucky, 6-4, 6-4 in the third day of the Lady Vol Classic (10/28)
Doubles
No. 1 doubles tandom with Kata Szekely d. No. 21 Brooke Bolender/Ronit Yurovsky (U-M), 8-5 (2/3)
Went 1-2 with partner Brynn Boren at the ITA Kickoff in Lincoln, Neb. (1/27)
Defeated the #10 and #42 doubles teams in the counrty representing Virginia, and Northwestern with Brynn Boren at the UVA Winter Invatational (1/21)
Recorded a 17-3 doubles record over the Fall 2012 season
Claimed the doubles title with an 8-5 win over Cecil/Dieters of Ohio State (10/28)
Coupled with Brynn Boren, defeated Ashleigh Antal/Marie Casares Vanderbilt 6-0, 6-1 to win the doubles crown at the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regionals (10/22)
Defeated the No. 15 Florida and No. 2 UCLA doubles teams at the Riviera ITA Women's All-American Championships (10/4)
Named to ITA's preseason rankings with partner Brynn Boren the 34th best doubles tandem in Division I
AS A JUNIOR (2011-12)
Singles
Finished season with 26-9 (18-6) record, leading the Lady Vols with 26 wins while playing from top three positions
Defeated 9-16 seed and 12th-ranked Emina Bektas (Michigan) to advance to the NCAA Singles Tournament's Round of 32, marking the highest-ranked win of her career
Win capped her career-high seven-match winning streak
All-SEC second team selection
Ranked for first time in career, finishing season 46th nationally and fifth regionally
10-5 vs. ranked opponents, including two Top 30 wins to open dual match season
Defeated No. 16 Lauren McHale (UNC)6-3, 6-2
Led Lady Vols with 18 dual-match wins
Clinched two wins for UT
Was 7-1 in three-set matches and won seven SEC contests
Won the flight three singles title at the Furman Fall Classic
Started season 7-1 for second time in three years
Reeled off three straight wins at the Ohio Valley Regional to advance to the quarterfinals
Defeated No. 68 Dijana Stojic of South Carolina 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, in the flight three championship
Doubles
Became Tennessee's 15th All-American, advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Tournament with Natalie Pluskota
Also led team with 31 (31-5) doubles wins, including a 19-2 dual match record.
31 doubles wins were the 13th-most by a Lady Vol all-time in a single season
Dual-match win total (19) led team
Recorded team-best nine SEC wins (9-1)
Upset third-seeded Shinann Featherston and Lauren McHale of UNC 7-6 (2), 6-3 and then defeated No. 18 Emily Fraser and Lindsey Hardenbergh of Virginia 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to earn All-American honors
Also knocked off No. 22 Lauren Embree and Joanna Mather (Florida) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to advance to semis
Finished season ranked career-high seventh with Pluskota nationally
Duo also ranked first in Ohio Valley Region
Won season-high 14 straight(three with Henderson, 11 with Pluskota), ending in NCAA Doubles Tournament Semifinals
Won 18 of last 20
Was 7-2 against ranked opponents, including win over Alabama's Alexa Guarachi and Courtney McLane (ranked 19th)
Helped UT clinch four doubles points
Won 24 of matches by at least four points
During fall alongside Pluskota, dominated competition at the regional to earn second career doubles title and earn berth in the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships
Duo continued winning streak with two more victories at National Indoors to advance to the quarterfinals, including a win over No. 12 Embree and Mather of Florida
Pair won five straight matches at Regional, not allowing any opponent to win more than three games
AS A SOPHOMORE (2010-11)
Singles
Recorded a career-best 18 singles wins, going 18-10 as a sophomore
Majority of action came at the No. 4 spot in the lineup, but also saw time at the three and five positions
In dual-match play, she was 15-8
Defeated No. 111 Alex Anghelescu of Georgia and No. 115 Lauren Mira of Vanderbilt in straight sets
Matched career-best with five straight wins beginning with a pair at the Michigan Invitational
Defeated 12 opponents in straight sets
Doubles
Played third in lineup for most of season
Reeled off 18 consecutive doubles victories and 20 of final 21 alongside Jennifer Meredith to finish with a 21-5 record, including a 20-2 mark in dual-match play
Posted a 10-1 SEC record
Allowed two points or less on 11 occasions
Winning percentage of .808 was second on team
Notched ranked wins against No. 68 Leslie Hureau and Sophie Garre of Indiana and No. 80 Antonia Foehse and Mary Anne Macfarlane of Alabama
Played with Kayla McMurry in the fall and went 1-1
AS A FRESHMAN (2009-10)
Singles
Named to the 2009-10 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll
Posted a 4-4 singles record in dual match play
Went 3-1 in singles play and 3-0 in doubles play in the NCAA Tournament
Contributed to Tennessee sweep of No. 4 Michigan by thrashing Michelle Sulahian, 6-2, 6-0
Topped Pauula Pereira in straight sets on May 14 to help Tennessee advance past Winthrop in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament
Snagged the Flight Seven singles title at the SEC Coaches' Tournament
Earned her first-ever dual match singles win against Danielle Terpko of Mississippi State on April 4
Was terrific in her first collegiate fall season, finishing with an 8-2 singles record and an identical doubles mark
Ousted three opponents from Indiana, Miami (Ohio) and Memphis to reach the singles semifinals at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals
Beat North Carolina No. 79 Sophie Grabinski at the Furman Fall Classic, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Posted a 5-5 mark in doubles competition
Teamed with Maria Sorbello, she helped UT post a comeback victory at No. 3 doubles to clinch the doubles point against Notre Dame in the NCAA Quarterfinals
Also recorded a doubles win against Winthrop, pairing up with Maria Sorbello to top Lisa Wilkinson and Sara Abutovic
Partnered with Maria Sorbello for all doubles competitions
Won the Flight Three doubles crown at the SEC Coaches Tournament.
HIGH SCHOOL
Member of the Hungarian National Team in 2003 and 2004
Had a first-place finish in doubles against Portugal in 2003 and a third-place singles finish versus Belarus
Won the Hungarian National Championship in the under-16 category in 2004, and in 2007 in the U18 division
Won bronze at the 2005 Hungarian Women's Championship
Traveled with the European Junior Tour
Played with the Tabani Spartacus and Alba Blanca tennis clubs
Played two ITF tournaments in 2006 at Dubai
PERSONAL
Enjoys going to the theater and hanging out with friends
Lists her first tennis racket as her biggest influence because she started her career with it
.Names Andre Agassi as the person she has modeled her game after and says Roger Federer is the person she admires the most
Chose Tennessee because of it sports achievements and notoriety
Has one sibling, Balazs
Kata Szekely, daughter of Dr. Andras and Mrs. Marianna Szekely, was born September 19, 1989, in Mór, Hungary
