Nov. 7, 2010
USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships Home Page
FLUSHING, N.Y. - No. 1-ranked California women's tennis junior Jana Juricova fell in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) to No. 3 Maria Sanchez of USC in the singles title match of the 2010 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Tennis Championship at the USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday, Nov. 7.
Seeded seventh, Sanchez defeated second-seeded Juricova for just the second time in six meetings to deny Juricova's bid to become the fourth player to win back-to-back indoor singles titles. As Cal's only indoor singles champion, Juricova earned the right to defend her title by earning four hard-fought victories in this year's championships.
The third-year Golden Bear opened the tournament with a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 22-ranked Marta Lesniak of Southern Methodist in the round of 32. In the second round, Juricova stayed efficient with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Florida's Alex Cercone before she notched a 6-2, 6-1 win over No. 7-ranked Denise Dy of Washington in the quarterfinal. Juricova's only three-set test came against No. 15 Aerial Ellis of Texas in the semifinal where she had to come from one-set down to win, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Sanchez looked comfortable in the first set of the title match as she claimed a 6-2 win, but Juricova fought back to even the match at one set apiece with a strong 6-3 victory in the second. Sanchez went ahead first in the final set, but Juricova came back to get within one game at 5-4. However, Sanchez wouldn't be denied as she closed out the final set with a 6-4 win.
The loss completes fall play for Juricova, who will now prepare for the 2011 dual season. The Bears will host the 2011 Cal Winter Invitational (Jan. 21-23) at Hellman Tennis Complex in Berkeley, Calif. to kick off the new year.
For complete final results from the Indoor Championships, please visit www.itatennis.com.
2010 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Tennis Championships
USTA-Billie Jean King National Tennis Center | Flushing, N.Y.
Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010
Singles Final
[7] No. 3 Maria Sanchez (USC) def. [2] No. 1 Jana Juricova (CAL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
