Jan. 17, 2018
MELBOURNE, Aus. – On Tuesday, Vanderbilt’s Astra Sharma became the first women’s tennis student-athlete to compete in a Grand Slam since the legendary Julie Ditty.
Living out a personal dream, Sharma, the reigning SEC Player of the Year, made her Australian Open and Grand Slam debut in the first round of women’s doubles alongside former Florida Gator and fellow Aussie, Belinda Woolcock.
Competing in front of friends and family, the SEC duo faced off against the tournament’s 12th-seeded pairing of Raquel Atawo/Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
With the coin toss in the Commodore’s favor, Sharma elected to receive and officially made her Grand Slam debut. Both doubles teams came out playing aggressive offense and dominant defense. Sharma and Woolcock went up two breaks for a 5-3 advantage, however Atawo/Groenefeld battled back into the set.
Roo wins the coin toss and just like that the Commodore has made her #AusOpen Grand Slam debut!
LIVE now on WatchESPN! #DoresOnTour pic.twitter.com/wjUSeUNXyd
— Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) January 17, 2018
As midnight approached in U.S. Central Time, the SEC duo entered into a first-set tiebreaker. Sharma and Woolcock took an early 2-0 lead, but the experienced Atawo/Groenefeld fought back to take the tiebreaker and first-set advantage, 7-6(2).
Sharma and Woolcock came out confident in the first set, earning a 2-0 lead, at which Atawa/Groenefeld quickly chipped away to make the score 2-all. Astra and Belinda earned one additional game, 3-2, before their opponents went on a four-game streak to seal the victory and spot in the second round of the Australian Open women’s doubles tournament, 7-6(2), 6-3.
“This was an incredible experience for Astra,” said head coach Geoff Macdonald, who was in attendance in Melbourne. “She played superbly and I’m so proud of her. To play a Grand Slam in your home country is an honor and an achievement. I’m so glad I got to see her play in her first Grand Slam. Many more to come!”
Talk about RooTube!
RT if you’re watching your reigning @SEC Player of the Year! #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GEKFFWOyc0
— Vandy Women’s Tennis (@Vandywtennis) January 17, 2018
