Sweet Taste of Victory

ORLANDO, Fla. – Senior Fernanda Contreras continued her NCAA Singles Championship run by defeating Texas’ Petra Granic in straight sets, advancing to her second straight NCAA Round of 16.

“Today was pretty good. Petra started playing really well and I just had to weather the storm a little bit and wait for some errors,” said Contreras. “I’m pumped for tomorrow, it’s a brand-new day so I just have to be thankful for the opportunities that I’ve been given and just keep fighting.”

Contreras started the match strong with a quick 3-1 lead over Granic in the first set.

Granic fought back to put up three games, but Contreras maintained the lead, 5-3, collecting the final game to take the first set, 6-3.

In the second set, Contreras outplayed Granic, earning a 3-2 lead.

Granic battled to take the lead over Contreras, 4-3. However Contreras bounced back to retake the lead, 5-4. With one game remaining between Contreras and the NCAA Round of 16, Contreras defeated Granic, 6-4, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

In last year’s Round of 16, Contreras outmatched Loyola Marymount’s No. 48 Veronica Miroshnichenko, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.

Contreras will face Duke’s Kelly Chen in the Sweet Sixteen. Chen enters the match fresh off a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over NC State’s Anna Rodgers in the Round of 32.

Chen boasts a 10-match win streak and an overall 30-6 season record entering the Round of 16.

Contreras’ victory over Granic marks her 32nd singles victory and 136th career victory. Contreras looks to extend her seven-match win streak as she faces Chen in the Sweet Sixteen on Wednesday at the USTA Tennis Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Follow along with Contreras in the Round of 16 by following @VandyWTennis on Twitter and Instagram.