All-Stanford Singles Final
STANFORD, Calif.- For the third time in five years, the singles final of the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships will be an all-Stanford affair.
Sophomores Taylor Davidson and Carol Zhao will square off in Tuesday’s championship match (approx. 12 p.m.) at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium. Both players prevailed in tough three-setters on Monday afternoon in the semifinals. The doubles final begins at 10 a.m.
The regional tournament has once again served as a showcase for Stanford’s impressive depth, with Davidson outlasting fellow sophomore teammate Caroline Doyle 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2). Meanwhile, Zhao pulled away from California’s Karla Popovic 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2) on the other side of the bracket.
The singles champion will come from Stanford for the fifth consecutive season, following Kristie Ahn (2013, 2010), Krista Hardebeck (2012) and Nicole Gibbs (2011). Both Davidson and Zhao are seeking their first career singles crown.
The most recent all-Stanford championship match occurred in 2011, when Gibbs defeated Mallory Burdette 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3).
Meanwhile, the bid for an all-Stanford doubles final came up short, with California booking both spots in the title match. Doyle and Ellen Tsay dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr while Davidson and Zhao were defeated 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (2) by Klara Fabikova and Zsofi Susanyi (California).
Last year’s doubles final was an all-Cardinal challenge, with Davidson and Tsay edging Ahn and Zhao 8-6. It was the third doubles championship in as many years for Tsay, who teamed with Stacey Tan in 2011 and 2012.
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Round of 128
Oct. 10: Ellen Tsay d. Nicole Long (Oregon) 6-3, 6-2
Oct. 10: Taylor Davidson d. Anneka Watts (Fresno State) 6-1, 6-1
Oct. 10: Krista Hardebeck d. Christiana Ferrari (Pacific) 6-1, 6-2
Round of 64
Oct. 10: Ellen Tsay d. Sofya Malysheva (Fresno State) 6-0, 6-1
Oct. 10: Taylor Davidson d. Sophie van den Aarssen (Portland) 6-1, 6-1
Oct. 10: Maja Mladenovic (Portland) d. Krista Hardebeck 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Oct. 10: Caroline Doyle d. Daria Savchenko (Sacramento State) 6-0, 6-0
Oct. 10: Carol Zhao d. Miki Kobayashi (Washington) 6-0, 6-1
Round of 32
Oct. 11: Ellen Tsay d. Maria Biryukova (Washington State) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
Oct. 11: Taylor Davidson d. Samanta Polayes (Gonzaga) 6-0, 6-3
Oct. 11: Caroline Doyle d. Anne Susdorf (Fresno State) 6-0, 6-0
Oct. 11: Carol Zhao d. Donika Bashota (Washington State) 6-3, 6-0
Round of 16
Oct. 11: Lynn Chi (California) d. Ellen Tsay 6-1, 6-4
Oct. 11: Taylor Davidson d. Danielle Flores (Saint Mary’s) 6-0, 6-4
Oct. 11: Caroline Doyle d. Julija Lukac (Washington State) 6-0, 6-1
Oct. 11: Carol Zhao d. Klara Fabikova (California) 6-1, 6-7 (1), 6-4
Quarterfinals
Oct. 12: Taylor Davidson d. Lynn Chi (California) 6-2, 6-1
Oct. 12: Caroline Doyle d. Lucia Butkovska (Portland) 6-2, 6-2
Oct. 12: Carol Zhao d. Maegan Manasse (California) 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
Semifinals
Oct. 13: Taylor Davidson d. Caroline Doyle 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Oct. 13: Carol Zhao d. Karla Popovic (California) – 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1
Championship Match
Oct. 14: Taylor Davidson vs. Carol Zhao – 11 a.m. PT
Round of 32
Oct. 11: Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay d. Lyann Hoang/Cecilia Estlander (California) 8-2
Oct. 11: Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao d. Sofia Holmberg/Thyra Taune (San Francisco) 8-2
Round of 16
Oct. 12: Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay d. Julianna Bacelear/Malin Cubukcu (San Jose State) 8-1
Oct. 12: Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao d. Elianne Douglas-Miron/Riko Shimizu (Washington) 8-2
Quarterfinals
Oct. 12: Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay d. Nia Rose/Alyssa Tobita (Oregon) 8-4
Oct. 12: Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao d. Lynn Chi/Karla Popovic (California) 8-0
Semifinals
Oct. 13: Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (California) d. Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay 6-4, 6-4
Oct. 13: Klara Fabikova/Zsofi Susanyi (California) d. Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (2)