STILLWATER, Okla. – The San Diego State women's tennis team's Andjela Skrobonja is in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the NCAA Singles Tournament. The No. 98-ranked Aztec drew a tough opponent for the Round of 64 in 9-16-seeded Lisa Zaar, of Pepperdine, who is ranked No. 15 in the nation. Despite her opponent's high ranking, Skrobonja was not intimidated, winning in straight sets to advance to the Round of 32, held Tuesday in Stillwater.
Skrobonja joins Bunyawi Thamchaiwat, who won in 2022, as the only Aztecs to win an NCAA Singles Tournament match since 1986, when Cynthia MacGregor won twice, and Monique Javier won once. Thamchaiwat fell in the Round of 32 after her win. The only other Aztec to make the singles tournament in the 21st century is Laura Antonana Iriarte, who was bested in the Round of 64.
In Monday's match, Skrobonja got off to a hot start, winning the first nine points to take a 2-0 lead. Zaar countered by taking the next four games. Skrobonja tied things back up before Zaar won a fifth game and took a 30-0 lead in the following game. Skrobonja snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, winning eight of the next nine points to take a 6-5 lead. The next game went to deuce, where Skrobonja won for a 7-5 victory.
The next set, the two split the first two games, with Skrobonja winning the first and Zaar taking the second. The Aztec did not lose another game, winning five in a row for a 6-1 second set win to knock off her highly ranked opponent.
In Tuesday's Round of 32, Skrobonja will face No. 116-ranked Sofia Johnson, of Old Dominion. Johnson defeated Florida's No. 56-ranked Carly Briggs 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.
NCAA Singles Tournament
Greenwood Tennis Center
Stillwater, Okla.
San Diego State's Round of 64 Results
Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. [9-16] Lisa Zaar (Pep) 7-5, 6-1