Women’s Tennis

Wednesday was a long day for ITA National Rookie of the Year Audra Cohen.

After winning a three-set match in singles in the morning, Cohen and partner Cristelle Grier won a marathon doubles match that lasted nearly three hours.

“I’m pretty tired,” Cohen said. “Hopefully I won’t be tired at all tomorrow.”

Despite a slow start, Cohen and Grier defeated Michigan’s Kara Delicata and Michelle DaCosta 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5). This was their third meeting of the season, having split the previous two.

“I’ve been in some great doubles matches in my career,” Grier said. “But this one was just so satisfying .”

The nation’s No. 2 tandem willed themselves through two tie-breakers, each with the potential to end their tournament run, while Cohen battled a recurring back injury. The duo had a 5-4 lead in the third set but fought to force a second tie-breaker after dropping the next two games.

Cohen has periodically suffered from back spasms throughout the season. On Wednesday afternoon, she was badly hampered, forcing Grier to cover for her in many instances.

“I really felt like I kind of had to take charge,” Grier said. “Especially on her service games to just give her a break, and not make her be in as much pain as she needed to be in.”

The win puts Grier and Cohen in the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles tournament. Their next match is today against Candice Fuchs and Megan Moulton-Levy of William & Mary.

Earlier on Wednesday, Cohen advanced to the quarterfinals of the singles tournament against a very familiar opponent. Cohen defeated Georgia Tech’s Kristi Miller 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 in a match between the only two freshmen in the country with at least 40 wins.

Miller was Cohen’s doubles partner in junior tennis.

“It was tough playing her,” Cohen said. “I have known her so well for so many years and she’s been my friend for a pretty long time. It’s tough playing your friend, but sometimes you just have to go out and compete.”

Both Miller and her coach, who recruited Cohen, knew her game. But despite losing the second set handily, Cohen responded with a 6-0 bagel that she called “the best set of her life.”

Cohen will have little time for rest. She will face Story Tweedie-Yates of Texas Christian today at 9 a.m., then team up with Grier against the William & Mary duo.

It will be Cohen’s fourth consecutive day of action, and Grier’s third.

“Audra and I both thrive on those situations,” Grier said. “We like the big moments. I think we both step up to them. It’s those type of climactic moments that we’re both in the game for. If it was just easy rolling at 6-1, 6-1, that wouldn’t be so fun all the time.”

Reach David Kalan at [email protected]