A triumphant yell rang out across Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex Monday afternoon. But it didn’t come from a Gator.
After a nearly three-hour long match, Georgia freshman Elena Christofi took down Florida junior Josie Kuhlman in the singles final of the ITA Regional Championships, a match UF coach Roland Thornqvist described as “top-five level tennis.”
“(It) was definitely a heartbreaker for me,” Kuhlman said. “I played well and played a good match and she just beat me.”
Kuhlman jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Christofi in the first set. But Christofi, who beat Florida’s Spencer Liang in the semifinals on Sunday, was able to tie the set at four. The two eventually tied at six, sending the match into a tiebreaker.
Two overhand hits by Christofi that went unanswered by Kuhlman gave Christofi the win, 7-6 (5).
After Kuhlman took the second set 6-2, the third set was sent into another tiebreaker.
Christofi eventually won 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (4).
“I was really impressed by the sportsmanship in the singles finals this morning,” Thornqvist said. “They were playing their hearts out and they were telling each other ‘great shot’ when the other hit a winner. I wish the rest of the country could see that.”
Soon after, doubles duo Belinda Woolcock and Kuhlman faced Christofi and her doubles partner, Kennedy Shaffer. The Florida tandem won 6-7 (2), 7-5, 10-8.
“I think coming back after (the singles loss), I was just really motivated,” Kuhlman said
Woolcock had the game-winning hit, sending it between the legs of Shaffer and claiming the doubles title for a second year in a row with Kuhlman.
“It’s a really good feeling being there for each other and being able to defend the title,” Kuhlman said.
The two will play in the ITA National Indoor Championships on Nov. 3.
Contact Cassie Amundson at camundson@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @camundson_.
Josie Kuhlman returns a ball during the ITA Regional Championships on Oct. 22, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.
