FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 7, 2021) – Defeating the highest-ranked opponent of her young career,
Gina Dittmann beat Washington's Vanessa Wong in straight sets Thursday morning at the ITA Women's All-American Championships in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Dittmann, entering the tournament ranked No. 85 in the ITA Preseason Top 125, beat the No. 14-ranked Wong 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the consolation bracket. Wong, named the ITA Northwest Region Senior of the Year in 2021 before returning for an additional season, registered eight wins against nationally-ranked opponents last season.
Wong finished 18-5 last season, playing all dual matches at No. 1, and earned All-Pac 12 First Team honors and a berth in the NCAA Singles Championships.
For Dittmann, it was her second career victory over a ranked opponent after beating Pacific's Klara Kosan 7-5, 6-2 when she was ranked No. 70 in mid-March. When facing Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament in May, Dittmann led No. 77 Ashley Lahey 6-2, 2-3 before the match went unfinished.
Moving on to the consolation quarterfinals, Dittmann will play Pepperdine's Shiori Fukuda on Friday at 9 a.m. ET.
Fukuda opened the 2021-22 season ranked at No. 59 in the ITA Preseason Top 125 after earning All-WCC First Team singles and doubles honors in her first season with the Waves after transferring from Ohio State.
After falling to No. 5 Georgia Drummy of Duke in the first round of the tournament, Fukuda defeated No. 29 Ayana Akli of South Carolina 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday in the consolation bracket.
The ITA Women's All-American Championships continue on Friday and run through Sunday, with all tournament information
here. Updates throughout the fall and spring seasons can also be found on all of the NAU women's tennis team social media accounts,
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook.
