Women’s Tennis Falls to Charlotte to Open ITA Kickoff

Friday, January 23

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Noon

Columbia University

Charlotte

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Women’s Tennis Falls to Charlotte to Open ITA Kickoff

1/23/2026 7:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Results (PDF)

Lions capture double point but cannot hold on for the win

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Columbia women's tennis opened the ITA Kickoff Classic with a 4-2 loss to Charlotte on Friday at the Chewning Tennis Center.

Columbia (1-1) jumped out to the early 1-0 lead after securing the doubles point. It is the second time this season the Lions have captured the doubles point. Gayathri Krishnan and Sabrina Lin got the momentum in Columbia's favor, defeating the 49ers (4-1) 6-3.

Sophia Wang and Emily Baek secured the point with a 6-4 win over Lucia Aranda and Yelyzaveta, 6-4.

Trailing 1-0, Charlotte seized momentum, winning three-straight singles matches. Sara Suchanakova and Chainykova secured straight-set wins over Wang and Michelle Li to go up 2-0.

Lucia Aranda then defeated Amber Yin 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, extending Charlotte's advantage to 3-1. Columbia answered as El Allami secured her biggest win of the season, defeating No. 72 Ni Xi, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Charlotte held on to secure the win at the number four slot when Prisca Abbas came back to defeat Baek in three sets, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Columbia returns to action on Saturday, January 31, when the Lions host Purdue at the Philip & Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center. The match between the Lions and Boilermakers is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

RESULTS
Singles
1. #107 Malak El Allami (COL) def. #72 Ni Xi (CHA), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) vs. Shona Nakano (CHA), 6-7, 6-4, 4-2 unfinished
3. Sara Suchankova (CHA) def. Sophia Wang (COL), 6-4, 6-3
4. Prisca Abbas (CHA) def. Emily Baek (COL), 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
5.Lucia Aranda (CHA) def. Amber Yin (COL), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Yelyzaveta Chainykova (CHA) def. Michelle Li (COL), 6-3, 7-6

Doubles
1. #47 Ni Xi/Sara Suchankova (CHA) vs. Malak El Allami/Amber Yin (COL), 4-4 unfinished
2. Gayathri Krishnan/Sabrina Lin (COL) def. Shona Nakano/Andrea Chacon (CHA), 6-3
3. Emily Baek/Sophia Wang (COL) def. Lucia Aranda/Yelyzaveta Chainykova (CHA), 6-4

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