
By reaching the NCAA Singles Round of 16, Emma Antonaki earned ITA All-America honors.
Photo by: Austin Perryman/Mississippi State Athletics
Antonaki Makes Round Of 16, Earns All-America Acclaim
May 24, 2021 | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – On Monday, Mississippi State women's tennis' Emma Antonaki accomplished a feat only one of her Bulldog predecessors has achieved. The 33rd-ranked Bulldog standout downed 30th-ranked Mia Horvit of South Carolina 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Singles Championship to become the second Bulldog ever to advance to the Round of 16.
By reaching the NCAA Singles Round of 16, Antonaki earned ITA All-America honors for the first time in her career. She is the fifth Bulldog in program history to be named an All-American. Antonaki also became the second Bulldog ever to advance to the Round of 16, joining Jasmine Lee (quarterfinals – 2016).
Antonaki will face UCLA's seventh-seeded Abigail Forbes in Tuesday's Round of 16 (time TBA) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. Forbes is also ranked seventh nationally in the latest ITA singles rankings. The Bruin advanced to Tuesday's action by defeating Ohio State's 18th-ranked Irina Cantos Siemers 6-3, 6-4 Monday. Antonaki and Forbes have never met.
Against Horvit Monday, the Athens, Greece, native jumped ahead early in all three sets, and broke often to stay in front for majority of the match. Antonaki was ahead 5-2 in the first, before Horvit rallied to force a tiebreaker which she claimed 7-6(2). Antonaki would use three second-set breaks to even the match and force a deciding third. The Bulldogs' No. 1 player then stay poised in a close deciding set, breaking Horvit at 3-3 and then held serve twice to secure the tight 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 over the senior Horvit.
"Today's match was another good test for me. She is a senior, a very good player and knows how to handle difficult situations like this," Antonaki said. "I tried to stay as positive as I could and fought hard after the first set. I am very honored to have achieved being an All-American but the tournament is not over – I have to prepare for tomorrow and try my best to once again."
Live Video Streaming - TennisONE AppÂ
Tennis ONE is your home for FREE livestream coverage of the 2021 NCAA Division I Individual Championships from May 23-May 28. Both the singles and doubles tournaments will be housed in the app, giving fans the opportunity to join the action from anywhere in the world. All matches will be available on the TennisONE app. Live Stats
Fans can also follow all matches throughout the tournament via live statistics.Â
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2021 NCAA Women's Singles Championship
May 24, 2021
Orlando, Fla. – USTA National Campus
Second Round - #33 Emma Antonaki (Mississippi State) def. #30Â Mia Horvit (South Carolina) 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4.
Current national rankings precede player names
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By reaching the NCAA Singles Round of 16, Antonaki earned ITA All-America honors for the first time in her career. She is the fifth Bulldog in program history to be named an All-American. Antonaki also became the second Bulldog ever to advance to the Round of 16, joining Jasmine Lee (quarterfinals – 2016).
Antonaki will face UCLA's seventh-seeded Abigail Forbes in Tuesday's Round of 16 (time TBA) at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. Forbes is also ranked seventh nationally in the latest ITA singles rankings. The Bruin advanced to Tuesday's action by defeating Ohio State's 18th-ranked Irina Cantos Siemers 6-3, 6-4 Monday. Antonaki and Forbes have never met.
Against Horvit Monday, the Athens, Greece, native jumped ahead early in all three sets, and broke often to stay in front for majority of the match. Antonaki was ahead 5-2 in the first, before Horvit rallied to force a tiebreaker which she claimed 7-6(2). Antonaki would use three second-set breaks to even the match and force a deciding third. The Bulldogs' No. 1 player then stay poised in a close deciding set, breaking Horvit at 3-3 and then held serve twice to secure the tight 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 over the senior Horvit.
"Today's match was another good test for me. She is a senior, a very good player and knows how to handle difficult situations like this," Antonaki said. "I tried to stay as positive as I could and fought hard after the first set. I am very honored to have achieved being an All-American but the tournament is not over – I have to prepare for tomorrow and try my best to once again."
Live Video Streaming - TennisONE AppÂ
Tennis ONE is your home for FREE livestream coverage of the 2021 NCAA Division I Individual Championships from May 23-May 28. Both the singles and doubles tournaments will be housed in the app, giving fans the opportunity to join the action from anywhere in the world. All matches will be available on the TennisONE app. Live Stats
Fans can also follow all matches throughout the tournament via live statistics.Â
For more information on Mississippi State women's tennis team, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateWT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
2021 NCAA Women's Singles Championship
May 24, 2021
Orlando, Fla. – USTA National Campus
Second Round - #33 Emma Antonaki (Mississippi State) def. #30Â Mia Horvit (South Carolina) 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4.
Current national rankings precede player names
Â
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