University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: courtesy of ITA
Top Moments Of 2019-20: Graham's Run To All-American Final
April 16, 2020 | Women's Tennis
This week brings the fourth transmission in the series on GoHeels.com looking back at the top moments of the shortened 2019-20 North Carolina women's tennis season. When Carolina Athletics canceled all spring competitions in accordance with the ACC's decision on March 17 due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNC was in the midst of putting together perhaps the best season in program history. The Tar Heels were No. 1 in the national polls with a perfect 18-0 record, had already won team and singles ITA National Championships and sat atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings. Please continue to visit GoHeels.com as we look back on the amazing accomplishments head coach Brian Kalbas and his program enjoyed this past season.
Senior Alexa Graham made a valiant run to the singles championship final at the 2019 ITA Women's All-American Championships this past October in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was in search of becoming just the second Tar Heel to win one of the most prestigious events on the college tennis calendar.
The Garden City, New York, native moved through the field with five successive wins over top-50 competitors. Graham knocked off No. 26 Chiara Lommer (Michigan) and No. 18 Meible Chi (Duke) in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, and then earned back-to-back comeback wins in three sets over No. 15 Christina Rosca (Vanderbilt) in the quarters and No. 17 Anna Turati (Texas) in the semifinals.
That setup a blockbuster title match between Graham and Ashley Lahey of Pepperdine. This was the third meeting between the two All-America talents in 2019 with each winning once. Graham pinned Lahey with a loss in May down in Orlando at the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship. In September, Lahey knocked off Graham on her way to winning the Oracle/ITA Masters.
Before a national televised audience on ESPNU at the University of Tulsa, Lahey continued her march to the No. 1 spot on the singles charts with a 6-4, 7-5, win over Graham.
Lahey's victory was her third-straight singles championship in the fall season and she wound up the top-ranked player in the nation when the final ITA singles rankings were released in early March. Graham was not far off at No. 3.
Then freshman Jamie Loeb remains the lone Carolina player to win the ITA Women's All-American championship when she miraculously came through the prequalifying draw and qualifying draw to win 11 matches in nine days to garner the 2013 crown.
2019 ITA Women's All-American Championships
Main Draw Singles
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - First Round
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. #41 Emma Antonaki (Miss State) 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
Thursday, Oct. 10 - Second Round
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. #26 Chiara Lommer (Michigan) 6-2, 6-3
Friday, Oct. 11 - Round of 16
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [16] #18 Meible Chi (Duke) 6-0, 6-2
Friday, Oct. 11 - Quarterfinals
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [13] #15 Christina Rosca (Vandy) 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4
Saturday, Oct. 12 - Semifinals
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [15] #17 Anna Turati (Texas) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Sunday, Oct. 13 - Finals
[12] #14 Ashley Lahey (Pepperdine) def. [3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
Senior Alexa Graham made a valiant run to the singles championship final at the 2019 ITA Women's All-American Championships this past October in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was in search of becoming just the second Tar Heel to win one of the most prestigious events on the college tennis calendar.
The Garden City, New York, native moved through the field with five successive wins over top-50 competitors. Graham knocked off No. 26 Chiara Lommer (Michigan) and No. 18 Meible Chi (Duke) in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, and then earned back-to-back comeback wins in three sets over No. 15 Christina Rosca (Vanderbilt) in the quarters and No. 17 Anna Turati (Texas) in the semifinals.
That setup a blockbuster title match between Graham and Ashley Lahey of Pepperdine. This was the third meeting between the two All-America talents in 2019 with each winning once. Graham pinned Lahey with a loss in May down in Orlando at the 2019 NCAA Singles Championship. In September, Lahey knocked off Graham on her way to winning the Oracle/ITA Masters.
Before a national televised audience on ESPNU at the University of Tulsa, Lahey continued her march to the No. 1 spot on the singles charts with a 6-4, 7-5, win over Graham.
Lahey's victory was her third-straight singles championship in the fall season and she wound up the top-ranked player in the nation when the final ITA singles rankings were released in early March. Graham was not far off at No. 3.
Then freshman Jamie Loeb remains the lone Carolina player to win the ITA Women's All-American championship when she miraculously came through the prequalifying draw and qualifying draw to win 11 matches in nine days to garner the 2013 crown.
2019 ITA Women's All-American Championships
Main Draw Singles
Wednesday, Oct. 9 - First Round
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. #41 Emma Antonaki (Miss State) 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
Thursday, Oct. 10 - Second Round
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. #26 Chiara Lommer (Michigan) 6-2, 6-3
Friday, Oct. 11 - Round of 16
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [16] #18 Meible Chi (Duke) 6-0, 6-2
Friday, Oct. 11 - Quarterfinals
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [13] #15 Christina Rosca (Vandy) 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4
Saturday, Oct. 12 - Semifinals
[3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) def. [15] #17 Anna Turati (Texas) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Sunday, Oct. 13 - Finals
[12] #14 Ashley Lahey (Pepperdine) def. [3] #4 Alexa Graham (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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