SAN DIEGO – Teja Tirunelveli, Vesa Gjinaj and Constanza Fernandez Rincon advanced to the main draw at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships after combining for five victories on Thursday. Tirunelveli and Gjinaj captured a win in doubles while Tirunelveli and Fernandez Rincon each earned two singles victories.
Kicking off the day with doubles play, Tirunelveli and Gjinaj came out on top in an 8-5 decision in their round of 64 matchup against CSUN’s Madison Shepperson and Sandra Isabela Arguelles.
Fernandez Rincon and Azuna Ichioka also made an appearance in the round of 64, but fell 8-3 to Cal Poly’s Jessica MacCallum and Natalie Lynch.
The Aztecs went 2-0 in the qualifying singles round of 64, with Tirunelveli taking down Cal State Fullerton’s Johanna Hiesmair 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) and Fernandez Rincon securing a 6-2, 4-6, [10-8] victory over Ilana Toro out of Loyola Marymount.
The two Aztecs carried their momentum into the qualifying round of 32. Tirunelveli claimed her spot in the main draw after downing Cal Poly’s Natalie Lynch in a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), [11-9] thriller. Fernandez Rincon advanced with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Susannah Su out of UC Riverside.
Competition will continue on Friday, beginning with the doubles round of 32 at 9 a.m., followed by the main draw singles round of 64.
Day One Results
Doubles Round of 64
Teja Tirunelveli/Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) def. Madison Shepperson/Sandra Isabela Arguelles (CSUN 8-5
Jessica MacCallum/Natalie Lynch (Cal Poly) def. Constanza Fernandez Rincon/Azuna Ichioka (SDSU) 8-3
Singles Qualifying Round of 64
Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) def. Johanna Hiesmair (Cal State Fullerton) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
Constanza Fernandez Rincon (SDSU) def. Ilana Toro (LMU) 6-2, 4-6, [10-8]
Singles Qualifying Round of 32
Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) def. Natalie Lynch (Cal Poly) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), [11-9]
Constanza Fernandez Rincon (SDSU) def. Susannah Su (UCR) 6-3, 6-2