Bolton, Hart Advance on Day 1 of Singles Play
May 20, 2019 | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – UCLA women's tennis players Elysia Bolton and Jada Hart turned in dominant singles performances against higher ranked opponents on Day 1 of NCAA Championships individual play Monday at the USTA National Campus.
Each player won in straight sets, with neither surrendering more than four total games. Bolton and Hart advanced to Tuesday's second round, which coincides with the beginning of doubles action. Bolton and Hart are set to team up in doubles play.
Facing off against 30th-ranked McCartney Kessler of Florida, No. 32 Bolton took 11 of the first 13 games to move within four points of victory. Kessler took the next two games, but it was too little, too late, as Bolton finished her off for a 6-1, 6-3 result. The win represents the freshman's fourth top-30 win of the season and improves her team-high win total to 27.
No. 45 Hart overpowered No. 33 Meible Chi of Duke, registering a 6-1, 6-1 result to continue the Bruin success. Of Hart's four wins in her last four decisions (all in NCAA play), three have come against nationally-ranked opponents and none have made it to a third set. Against top-35 opponents since March 1, Hart is 5-1.
Next up for Bolton is Anna Turati of Texas, who upset eighth-seeded Sophie Whittle of Gonzaga 6-2, 7-6(8). Bolton dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to Turati in an additional match at January's Freeman Memorial Championships. Turati is ranked No. 28, nationally.
Hart will face a familiar foe in Stanford's Michaela Gordon, who upset fifth-seeded Makenna Jones of North Carolina 6-2, 6-1. Hart is 1-1 on the year against Gordon, beating her 6-1, 6-3 at Los Angeles Tennis Center before suffering a 6-4, 6-4 loss in the Pac-12 Championships title match.
The doubles tandem of Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield will start Tuesday against Kessler and Victoria Emma of Florida. Bolton and Hart will take on Sadie Hammond and Kaitlin Staines of Tennessee.
All Tuesday times are still to be determined.
Players Mentioned
