Aug. 30, 2014
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. – Georgia Tech women’s tennis freshman Johnnise Renaud went 1-1 on her trip to the Junior U.S. Open Championship this past weekend at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center National Tennis Center.
“It was a tremendous experience for Johnnise,” head coach Rodney Harmon said. “I think it will be good for her when she comes back to school and she can see the things in her game that we have been talking about working on. I think it’s going to be very positive for her. I know she is looking forward to getting things going with the team this fall.”
Renaud competed in the Junior Girls’ Qualifying Singles Draw at the U.S. Open. This was her second time competing at the prestigious event. Renaud played in the 2013 U.S. Open Junior Championship and the Wimbledon Junior Championships. She also competed in the Canadian Open Junior Championship where she advanced to the round of 32 after defeating Japan’s Hikari Yamamot.
Renaud captured a first round win on Friday against Australia’s Destanee Aiava in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to round two in the qualifying draw. The first game against number 12-seed Aiava was close. After battling to a 4-4 tie, Renaud won the next two games to put away set one, 6-4. Down 3-1 in set two, Renaud rallied and won five-straight games to win the set, 6-3, and clinch the match.
“It was a great opportunity for Johnnise to come and play here at the US Open,” Harmon said. “She didn’t play as well today as she did yesterday. She faced a very, very high-quality opponent. The young lady was the number three seed.”
On Saturday morning, Renaud played the number three seed, Vera Lapko of Belarus. Lapko won her first round match, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to play Renaud. Renaud stayed close to Lapko in set one, tying the set 4-4, but Lapko rattled off the next two games to win 6-4. Lapko won set two, 6-1, to solidify the win.
Renaud and the rest of the Yellow Jackets kick off the 2014 fall season on September 19 when they host the Georgia Tech Invitational. Georgia State, LSU and N.C. State will compete at the GT Invitational which will be held at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
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–TogetherWeSwarm–
