July 13, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While it technically is the off-season for collegiate tennis, the Vanderbilt women’s tennis team has been hard at work this summer abroad. With tournaments spanning from the USA over to France and down to Italy, the ‘Dores have collected memories to last a lifetime as well as quite a few trophies.
Just this past weekend recent graduate Frances Altick and raising redshirt-junior Astra Sharma left Amstelveen, The Netherlands with their first pro doubles title. The duo, which has been traveling around Europe alongside USC Trojan Zoe Scandalis, knocked off the top-seed in semifinals, 6-4, 6-3, only to down the second seed, 6-4, 6-2, for the hardware.
“Doubles has been really fun,” said Altick, “we’re playing some of the best doubles we’ve ever played. We’re playing smart and more willing to be aggressive, but also defending when we need to. We’ve been really relaxed on court and I think that’s helped us. In the first round I was getting really frustrated with how I was playing, so after that we really made it a goal to just enjoy it and be positive no matter what happened, and that made a big difference.”
Individually, Altick advanced to semifinal play in the Amstelveen 10K, her second career semi appearance. To be one of the last athletes standing, the Monroe, La. escaped a narrow 7-5 first set, but powered through her second, 6-1.
Raising sophomores Fernanda Contreras and Summer Dvorak have teamed up with incoming freshmen Christina Rosca and Emma Kurtz in France and Italy. Getting to know the future Dores before the season is underway, Contreras and Dvoarak have began developing team chemistry early, all while helping teach team expectations.
Rosca has competed in tournament finals in back-to-back weeks, claiming her most recent title on clay on Sunday in Toulon, France. The week prior, Vanderbilt had a successful showing in Cannes, with Contreras walking away on top of an All Commodore singles championship.
Frances Altick and Astra Sharma earn first pro doubles title.
Fernanda Contreras and Christina Rosca in Cannes, France.
Summer Dvorak and Emma Kurtz in Italy.
