Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Bulldog Classic
Petukhova Captures Bulldog Classic Singles Title
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Sept. 23, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - Second-seeded and 47th-ranked sophomore Anastasia Petukhova made certain Fresno State secured a title at its own tournament this weekend. The native from Moscow, Russia, was simply brilliant while capturing the 2007 Bulldog Classic singles title, Sunday afternoon at the Wathen Tennis Center. Petukhova beat Fresno Pacific's Anna Karavayeva 6-3, 6-1, completing the tournament without dropping a set.
The title match was intense early on. The first two games of the first set went to deuce 10 times while Karavayeva broke and then held serve to take a 2-0 lead. Petukhova rallied in the next three games, holding, breaking and then holding again for a 3-2 advantage. After Karaveyeva equaled the set at 3-3, Petukova won the last three games to take the first set and the momentum.
Petukhova won the first five games of the second set, before Karavayeva broke serve to make it 5-1. But Petukhova bounced right back and finished off the match with a forehand volley winner to complete the perfect run.
In the semis, Petukhova beat No. 103 Maria Mizyuk of Nevada 6-2, 6-3, while Karavayeva topped No. 49 Katrina Zheltova of Sacramento State 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Petukhova has won 20 consecutive singles matches, all in straight sets, going back to last season. She has not lost since a three-set defeat to then-No. 84 Nina Munch-Soegaard on March 15, 2007. Only three times has an opponent been able to win more than three games in a set against Petukhova during the streak.
The Nevada duo of Mizyuk and Caroline Bailly beat Petukhova and sophomore Renata Kucerkova 8-3 in the doubles final. It ended a 13-match winning streak for the 18th-ranked Fresno State tandem.
Junior Bruna Paes beat Santa Clara's Stephanie Galainena 6-1, 6-3 in a consolation match as well on Sunday.
Petukhova, Kucerkova and junior Melanie Gloria will now prepare for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championship, the first major championship of the college tennis season. Gloria was a finalist in last year's event and has already qualified for the main draw, which begins on Oct. 4. Petukhova and Kucerkova will begin the qualifying rounds starting on Oct. 2
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