University of North Texas Athletics
Kononova, Kutubidze Win Regional Championship
10/21/2018 6:43:00 PM | Women's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — One of the greatest tournament performances in Mean Green tennis history ended on Sunday with a championship in the hands of the Mean Green.
Seniors Maria Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze, solidified themselves as the program's greatest doubles team with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the Texas Regional finals to claim the regional championship and earn the right to call themselves the best in Texas.
"It feels great to win this championships for the first time in UNT history," Kutubidze said. "It's a big win not for just tennis but for whole athletics. It's a big day for the Mean Green."
After two years of being eliminated in the semifinals, the duo finally broke through and reached the finals with a come from behind victory on Saturday. That alone was record-breaking as they became the first in program-history to do so. But on Sunday, everything came together and nothing could stop the seniors as they pulled off the straight-set victory over their Rice counterparts, the second Rice doubles team they beat in the tournament in route to the championship.
"Yesterday we made an unbelievable comeback," Kutubidze said "And today we looked so calm and confident on the court. I played very well today and we lifted each other's spirit very well."
Kononova and Kutubidze won three of their four matches this weekend in convincing fashion, the only close one being their come from behind three-set tiebreak victory in the semifinals. The seniors are now 54-20 all-time together.
With Sunday's championship, Kononova and Kutubidze earn an automatic qualification to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Fall National Championships in Surprise, Arizona, during the second week of November. It will be Kononova and Kutubidze's final fall tournament before they prepare for the spring dual match season.
Seniors Maria Kononova and Tamuna Kutubidze, solidified themselves as the program's greatest doubles team with a 6-4, 6-3 win in the Texas Regional finals to claim the regional championship and earn the right to call themselves the best in Texas.
"It feels great to win this championships for the first time in UNT history," Kutubidze said. "It's a big win not for just tennis but for whole athletics. It's a big day for the Mean Green."
After two years of being eliminated in the semifinals, the duo finally broke through and reached the finals with a come from behind victory on Saturday. That alone was record-breaking as they became the first in program-history to do so. But on Sunday, everything came together and nothing could stop the seniors as they pulled off the straight-set victory over their Rice counterparts, the second Rice doubles team they beat in the tournament in route to the championship.
"Yesterday we made an unbelievable comeback," Kutubidze said "And today we looked so calm and confident on the court. I played very well today and we lifted each other's spirit very well."
Kononova and Kutubidze won three of their four matches this weekend in convincing fashion, the only close one being their come from behind three-set tiebreak victory in the semifinals. The seniors are now 54-20 all-time together.
With Sunday's championship, Kononova and Kutubidze earn an automatic qualification to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Fall National Championships in Surprise, Arizona, during the second week of November. It will be Kononova and Kutubidze's final fall tournament before they prepare for the spring dual match season.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
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