CHARLESTON, S.C. (UCFKnights.com) – The UCF women's tennis team officially opened the fall schedule at the ITF $15,000 Charleston, S.C.
Freshmen Ksenia Kuznetsova and Maria Martinez competed as Knights for the first time in their careers, starting in the singles qualifying draw.
Kuznetsova, a native of Moscow, was seeded second and received a first-round bye to set up a matchup with Peyton Stearns on Monday, one of the top juniors in the country. Kuznetsova made quick work of Stearns to punch her ticket to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win.
Martinez reached the second round after easily dispatching Mia Horvit in the opening round on Sunday afternoon. The Spanish international won in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, against the South Carolina number one and 2017 ITA All-American, who reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Tournament last year.
On Monday, Martinez squared off with Kelli Hine, a former standout at Missouri. Martinez cruised into the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 win.
Tuesday will be a busy day for the duo with the final round of the singles qualifying draw and the main draw of doubles play. Martinez will face Francesca Fusinato, the 2017 ITA Senior Player of the Year for the Atlantic Region during her time at Virginia Tech. Kuznetsova will go up against Elyse Lavender from LSU. The pair will play Anna Ross and Peyton Pesavento in doubles.
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