Cougars Fall in Season-Opener Against Texas A&M

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 24, 2021) – Washington State senior Michaela Bayerlova posted a convincing win at No. 1 singles but it was not enough as the Cougars fell to Texas A&M, 4-1, in their season opener Sunday at the 2021 ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
 
Bayerlova, entering the match as the nation's 55th-ranked player, had little trouble in defeating No. 64 Tatiana Makarova, 6-3, 6-1. Bayerlova broke serve seven times throughout the match and closed by winning nine of the final 10 games, including the last six. The win increases Bayerlova's winning streak to 14 dating back to last season.
 
After Texas A&M captured the opening doubles point, Katya Townsend increased the Aggie lead to 2-0 as freshman Fifa Kumhom never found the rhythm in her Cougar debut, falling at No. 3 to Townsend, 6-1, 6-1. Bayerlova's win cut that lead in half but that was all the Cougars could muster.
 
At No. 2, WSU's Hikaru Sato had chances to even things late in the first set but could not capitalize as Jayci Goldsmith won seven of the final nine games to close out a 6-4, 6-2 win. Renee McBryde then clinched the match at No. 4 with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Pang Jittakoat. At No. 5, WSU's Savanna Ly-Nguyen was trailing Riley McQuaid 2-6, 2-1 while at No. 6 WSU's Melisa Ates was in a close first set with Jessica Anzo, trailing 5-6 when play was halted.
 
The day began with doubles and all three Aggie teams posted early breaks of serve to take control. At No. 1, WSU's Bayerlova and Sato opened the match with their own break of serve, then dropped six-straight games to the nation's 39th-ranked team of Makarova and Kayci Goldsmith, falling 6-1. At No. 3, WSU's Fifa Kumhom and Pang Jittakoat also broke serve in the first game before the A&M duo of McQuaid and Anzo took control with four-straight games before winning 6-2 and clinching the opening doubles point. At No. 2, WSU's Ates and Yang Lee were trailing McBryde and Townsend 5-2 when their match was stopped.
 
The Cougar are next in action Monday when they will face either No. 2 UCLA or No. 19 California. That match is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start from the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
 
WASHINGTON STATE WOMEN'S TENNIS
Texas A&M 4 def. Washington State 1
January 24, 2021
Los Angeles Tennis Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 #39 Tatiana Makarova/Jayci Goldsmith (A&M) def. Michaela Bayerlova/Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-1
No. 2 Melisa Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) vs. Renee McBryde/Katya Townsend (A&M) 2-5 DNF
No. 3 Riley McQuaid/Jessica Anzo (A&M) def. Fifa Kumhom/Pang Jittakoat (WSU) 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 3
 
SINGLES
No. 1 #55 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) def. #64 Tatiana Makarova (A&M) 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Jayci Goldsmith (A&M) def. Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Katya Townsend (A&M) def. Fifa Kumhom (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 4 Renee McBryde (A&M) def. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) vs. Riley McQuaid (A&M) 2-6, 2-1, DNF
No. 6 Melisa Ates (WSU) vs. Jessica Anzo (A&M) 5-6, DNF
Order of Finish: 3,1,2,4