Nov. 4, 2017
PALM DESERT, Calif. — Following a phenomenal run in the Oracle ITA Fall National Championships, Fernanda Contreras returns to Nashville as a semifinalist in the inaugural tournament. Saturday was Contreras’ second consecutive semifinal appearance, as the junior won last month’s Oracle/ITA Riviera All-American Championships.
Contreras opened up the first set taking a close 6-4 advantage over Florida International’s Andrea Lazaro. A familiar opponent to the Vandy squad, Contreras had watched Lazaro face her teammate, Christina Rosca, at Riviera All-Americans.
After falling in the first set, the Panther came out to take a 4-2 lead. However, Contreras held strong to her game plan and forced the Commodore’s first tiebreaker of the tournament. Again, Lazaro held on to an early lead to send the match to three sets, 7-6(3).
In her first third set battle of Fall National Championships, Contreras fought Lazaro throughout the entire third set. With the finale on the horizon, Lazaro pulled through the final games of the contest to cement her spot in the championship match, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
