Women’s tennis drops season opener

Brady Fitch photo

Hagar Ramadan-Amin crushes a forehand during a 2023 match.

The Troy women’s tennis team dropped its season opener this past Sunday at Kennesaw State in 5-2 fashion.

Troy got out to the early lead in doubles with a quick court three win from last year’s All-Sun Belt Third Team pairing of Hagar Ramadan-Amin and Leena Metwally.

Unfortunately, the Trojans were unable to secure the doubles point as the Owls battled back with victories on courts one and two.

The Owls overpowered the Trojans in singles as they collected victories on courts one through four to secure a 5-0 advantage and the match.

Both teams elected to finish the remaining matches, which went the way of the Trojans.

Ramadan-Amin picked up a straight-set 6-4, 6-2 victory on court six to give Troy its first point of the day.

Metwally outlasted her opponent on court five 4-6, 6-3, 10-3, extending her win streak to six matches going back to last season.

Other notable performances included Valeriia Avdeeva’s line four match, in which she roared back with a 6-2 second set victory after dropping a tight first set 7-5.

Avdeeva fell just short of a victory in the match tiebreak.

Senior Gabrielle Leslie made her first singles court one appearance for the Trojans after spending much of her time this past season on court six for the Trojans.

The former line one player for Prairie View A&M was outmatched by Kennesaw State’s Ema Baraniakova in 6-3, 6-2 fashion.

Finally, newcomer Veena Nazar made her first court appearances for the Trojans at doubles two and singles three.

The freshman from Germany fell 6-2, 6-2 in her first collegiate singles match.

Head coach Rawia Elsisi and the Trojans will look to turn things around in their home-opener against Florida A&M on Jan. 28 at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.