ATHENS, Ga. – Harvard women's tennis rounded out its weekend at the ITA Kickoff in Athens, Ga., falling to UNC-Charlotte, 4-2.

The 49ers struck first, defeating the No. 1 and 3 Crimson doubles' teams with identical 6-4 decisions. 

As the match carried into singles, Charlotte moved within a point of clinching the match as it received points at court two and four, consecutively.    

Poised to keep Harvard's chances alive, Holly Fischer completed a straight set victory, dropping Sara Suchankova (Charlotte), 6-2, 6-4.  Natalie Block followed at the No. 6 spot, defeating Shona Nakano (Charlotte) in straight sets after battling to a tiebreaker win in the opening frame.

Despite the Crimson pressuring, the 49ers were ultimately able to seal the match at 4-2 as their No. 5 singles player provided the clinching point. 

Results

Doubles

1. Lucia Aranda/Prisca Abbas (Charlotte) def. No. 66 Kavya Karra/Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard), 6-4
2. Natalie Block/Holly Fischer (Harvard) vs. Amira Badawi/Sara Suchankova (Charlotte), 5-4 DNF
3. Shona Nakano/Ni Xi (Charlotte) def. No. 117 Anna-Raphaëlle Serghi/Angel You (Harvard), 6-4

Order of finish: 1, 3

Singles

1. Holly Fischer (Harvard) def. Sara Suchankova (Charlotte), 6-2, 6-4
2. Ni Xi (Charlotte) def. Charlotte Owensby (Harvard), 6-3, 2-0, ret.
3. Stephanie Yakoff (Harvard) vs. Amira Badawi (Charlotte), 6-1, 2-6, 3-1 DNF
4. Lucia Aranda (Charlotte) def. Kate Kim (Harvard), 6-1, 6-4
5. Y. Chainykova (Charlotte) def. Kavya Karra (Harvard), 6-4, 7-5
6. Natalie Block (Harvard) def. Shona Nakano (Charlotte), 7-6 (5), 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 6, 5

Next Up

Harvard will return for its home opener on Friday, January 31 as it welcomes crosstown rival, Boston College, to the Murr Center at 5:00 p.m. ET.