TicketsCINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati women’s tennis team opened its home slate in dominant fashion with a 7-0 sweep over Chicago State and a 4-3 victory against Cleveland State on Friday afternoon at the Western Athletic Club.
// CINCINNATI 7, CHICAGO STATE 0
The Bearcats jumped out early by securing the doubles point, winning on courts No. 2 and No. 3.
On court No. 3, sophomore Milica Popovski and freshman Ana Arsic cruised to a 6-0 victory over Mackenzie King and Christel Fahkry. Moments later, juniors Morgan Pyrz and Sakurako Watanabe sealed the doubles point with a commanding 6-1 win against Danina Hughes and Nikita Liyanage on court No. 2.
In singles play, Cincinnati continued to roll, sweeping all six matches in straight sets. Freshman Tara Kurepa set the tone with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win over Liyanage on court No. 4.
Senior Isabel Pacheco followed with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 victory against Fahkry on court No. 6, while Popovski added a 6-1, 6-0 win over Hughes on court No. 5.
The match was clinched on court No. 3 as Watanabe defeated King, 6-1, 6-3. Rozalia Gruszczynska and Gabrielle Guenther closed out singles play with wins on courts No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, to complete the sweep.
// CINCINNATI 4, CLEVELAND STATE 3
Cincinnati fell short in doubles play against the Vikings with only one win on court No. 2 by the pair of Pyrz and Watanabe (6-1).
The Bearcats responded strongly in singles play securing four match victories. Kurepa continued her streak by claiming the first singles win over Cleveland State (6-2, 6-3). Watanabe defeated Anna Mancino (6-4, 6-3) from court No. 4 to advance past the Vikings.
Guenther (6-4, 6-1) and Gruszczynska (7-6(1), 6-3) captured the last two singles wins to lift the Bearcats 4-3 over the Vikings for a victory.
With the win, Cincinnati delivered a standout performance to open the season with a 2–0 record.
// UP NEXT:
Cincinnati heads to Indiana University on January 31st to take on the Hoosiers at the IU Tennis Center in Bloomington. First serve is set for 12 p.m. ET.
// MATCH 1 RESULTS
Cincinnati 7, Chicago St. 0
Jan. 23, 2026 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Gabrielle Guenther / Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) vs. Camila Sanchez / Karolina Skowronska (CSU), 3-2, uf
2. Morgan Pyrz / Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Danina Hughes / Nikita Liyanage (CSU), 6-1
3. Milica Popovski / Ana Arsic (UC) def. Mackenzie King / Christel Fahkry (CSU), 6-0
ORDER OF FINISH: 3,2
Singles
1. Gabrielle Guenther (UC) def. Karolina Skowronska (CSU), 6-2, 7-5
2. Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) def. Camila Sanchez (CSU), 6-2, 6-2
3. Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Mackenzie King (CSU), 6-1, 6-3
4. Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Nikita Liyanage (CSU), 6-1, 6-0
5. Milica Popovski (UC) def. Danina Hughes (CSU), 6-1, 6-0
6. Isabel Pacheco (UC) def. Christel Fahkry (CSU), 6-0, 6-0
ORDER OF FINISH: 4,6,5,3,2,1
// MATCH 2 RESULTS
Cincinnati 4, Cleveland St. 3
Jan. 23, 2026 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Western Athletic Club
Doubles
1. Ella Franz / Melliz Petk Mustafa (CLE) def. Gabrielle Guenther / Rozalia Gruszczynska (CIN), 6-2
2. Morgan Pyrz / Sakurako Watanabe (CIN) def. Sofia Sergieva / Laura Tapia (CLE), 6-1
3. Leah Geisz / Anna Mancino (CLE) def. Tara Kurepa / Ana Arsic (UC), 6-3
ORDER OF FINISH: 2,1,3
Singles
1. Gabrielle Guenther (UC) def. Ella Franz (CLE), 6-4, 6-1
2. Rozalia Gruszczynska (UC) def. Jenna Redmile (CLE), 7-6(1), 6-3
3. Laura Tapia (CLE) def. Anastasija Arsic (UC), 7-5, 6-7(3), 10-08
4. Sakurako Watanabe (UC) def. Anna Mancino (CLE), 6-4, 6-3
5. Tara Kurepa (UC) def. Melliz Petkova Mustafa (CLE), 6-2, 6-3
6. Leah Geisz (CLE) def. Milica Popovski (UC), 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
ORDER OF FINISH: 5,4,1,2,3,6
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