CHARLESTON, S.C. – Playing her second-straight ITF event, Washington State tennis student-athlete Michaela Bayerlova advanced with a straight-set win in the first round of the $25,000 ITF Charleston event Wednesday at the LTP Tennis Club.
Bayerlova, unseeded in the event, had a strong opening match, posting a 7-6, 6-2 win over Italy's Verena Meliss. Meliss is ranked No. 637 in the world while Bayerlova entered the match at No. 600. After a close first set which Bayerlova won 7-1 in the tiebreak, the Cougar sophomore rode a pair of service breaks in the second set to victory. In all, Bayerlova broke Meliss' serve seven out of eight games.
Next up for Bayerlova is a match against the tournament's top seed, France's Sherazad Reix, ranked 293 in the world.
Bayerlova, unseeded in the event, had a strong opening match, posting a 7-6, 6-2 win over Italy's Verena Meliss. Meliss is ranked No. 637 in the world while Bayerlova entered the match at No. 600. After a close first set which Bayerlova won 7-1 in the tiebreak, the Cougar sophomore rode a pair of service breaks in the second set to victory. In all, Bayerlova broke Meliss' serve seven out of eight games.
Next up for Bayerlova is a match against the tournament's top seed, France's Sherazad Reix, ranked 293 in the world.