The official spring tennis season has not yet begun and already, a Blue Jay athlete has made history. Sophomore Ashnaa Rao of the Hopkins women's tennis team won three straight matches in a span of three days to secure the National Small College Singles Championship and even earned a spot in the dubbed ‘Super Bowl’ Championship on the following day.
The streak began with an impressive upset delivered to the No. 1 seed of the tournament in straight sets. Rao then faced junior Beatrice Rosen of Emory in a rematch of last year’s NCAA semifinals. Although their previous encounter ended early in favor of Emory, Rao moved onto the title match after making quick work of Rosen in just 18 games (6-4,6-2).
In the final match, Rao took on fellow unseeded player Megan Humphreys from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who also fought her way against ranked competition and into the finals. Rao started strong, pounding a 6-2 first set victory. Humphreys forced a third set with a 6-3 win in the second set. Rao prevailed in the end with a 6-4 set, improving her season record to 9-0 in singles match play.
With her victory, she becomes the first Hopkins tennis player, male or female, to win an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Championship. Her historic weekend, her consistent effort and her tremendous achievement of going undefeated in the fall season earned Rao The News-Letter’s Athlete of the Week honors. She was kind enough to reflect on her performances for us and answer a few questions.
The News-Letter: What does it feel to have a place in the Hopkins tennis record books?
Ashnaa Rao: It's crazy because during both of the tournaments, I was taking things one match at a time and never really thought that far ahead and now to know that I've broken history for Hopkins still doesn't feel real to me.
N-L: Looking back, how does it feel to have been initially unseeded only to upset the top seeds on your way to the finals?
AR: Initially being unseeded was nice because I entered the tournament with no pressure. Being a seeded player, you are the one that is expected to win so not having this pressure really helped me to relax and focus on my tennis.
N-L: What did you think of your performance in the first few games of the tournament?
AR: I felt that I competed well on Friday and Saturday. The matches were tough and I faced good opponents throughout the tournament but I was able to keep my focus and competed hard.
N-L: What can you say about the upcoming season and what’s in store for the team?
AR: I think my team is going to do great things this season. Everyone has been working really hard and I think that we have a great opportunity to do really well this year.
N-L: Now in your second year on the team, do you feel any different with championship and season experience under your belt?
AR: Being a sophomore, I have had a year of experience and I think this helped as I feel as I have matured a lot since then. I had a rib injury last year and did not get to play most of the season so that really helped to motivate me to want to do well this year now that I am finally healthy again.
N-L: What can you say about Director of Tennis Dave Woodring and his inspiration throughout your playing career so far?
AR: My coach has always been so supportive. He is such a hard worker and has a passion for the game and most importantly cares so much about each and every person on my team. I'm so lucky to have him as our team coach because he really helps and pushes us to be the best tennis players and people we can be.
The Lady Jays tennis team will be seeking its third consecutive title when they return to action in February for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Team Indoor Championship. The team has enjoyed success throughout this fall, capped by Rao's incredible performance this past weekend, and will look to build on the campaign when Centennial Conference play begins in the spring.
