No. 1 Texas women’s tennis delivered in its first home games this weekend, defeating North Texas, SMU and Tulane consecutively to improve to a 3–0 start.

The Longhorns’ successful weekend started on Friday with a 4–0 opening sweep against North Texas.

In doubles, returning Texas junior Malaika Rapolu and sophomore Grace Thomas won 7-5 over Kexuan Zhou and Olivia Halvorsen, giving Texas a 1–0 lead. 

North Texas gained an early 1–0 lead in two of the singles matchups, before the defending national champions fought back.

Juniors Taisiya Pachkaleva and Charlotte Chavatipon gave Texas a further lead, with sophomore Sabina Zeynalova bringing it home for a 6–1, 6–3 win over Glorida Alogo. Together, the Longhorns clinched the 4–0 sweep, putting their season start at 1–0. 

Texas kept up the momentum during Saturday’s game against SMU. 

Starting off with doubles, Texas gained an early lead after Zeynalova and Chavatipon won 6–1 against No. 32-ranked pair Jackie Nylander and Taylor Johnson. 

Zeynalova and Chavatipon’s streak was continued by Pachkaleva and freshman Nicole Rivkin, as they dominated the court in a 6–1 win over Drew Morris and Maja Makoric. 

The Longhorns continued to impress on the court with singles. No. 85 Rapolu finished the singles set for the team in an impressive 7–6 (7–4), 7–6 (7–5) victory against Taylor Johnson, putting Texas 5–2 over SMU and improving to 2–0. 

Texas looked to Sunday’s match against Tulane to further the season to a 3–0 record.  

Sunday’s early game was a sweep for the Longhorns, with Thomas and Rapolu winning the doubles point against Mackenzie Clark and Jiayun Zhu in a 6–3 victory.

With Pachkaleva, Rivkin, Chavatipon and Zeynalova dominating the tennis court with singles victories, Texas defeated Tulane 5–0.

The Longhorns are now 3–0 to kick off the season and will play at home on Friday against Fresno State at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.