The freshest faces of Texas women’s tennis are making their marks ahead of the formal season, earning numerous accolades throughout the fall.
Freshmen Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo and Ashton Bowers clinched singles bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships in the tournament’s first year of being held in the fall. The competition is being held this week, from Nov. 19-24 in Waco, Texas, hosted by Baylor University.
The two players qualified for their bids after their performances at the ITA Texas Regional Championships in Fort Worth, Texas in early October. Texas took the top three spots in the tournament, with Anazagasty-Pursoo winning the top singles title and Bowers finishing as runner-up.
Back in September, both players had an impressive showing at the 2024 ITA Women’s All-American Championships, starting the fall season on a high note. Anazagasty-Pursoo and fellow freshman Carmen Herea produced all three wins in the opening round of the pre-qualifiers. Bowers was selected for the qualifying round entering the tournament, earning a first-round qualifying victory and advancing to the singles main draw. These victories have made Bowers and Anazagasty-Pursoo the players to watch from the start of the season.
While Bowers is unable to participate in the NCAA tournament due to an injury, qualifying for the singles and doubles championships in her first season with the Longhorns is still a feat to take note of.
Freshmen on the tennis team are even accumulating international accolades.
Texas freshman Maya Joint joined the Australian tennis team as an “Orange Girl” for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga, Spain. As an “Orange Girl,” Joint traveled and practiced with the team as they prepared to face Slovakia. A tradition reserved for a promising player in the sport, Joint recalled to Tennis Australia the moment she learned she was joining the team.
“I was actually in the middle of an exam and (the team captain) called me,” Joint said to Tennis Australia. “She told me I was going to be an Orange Girl, and I was super excited. It’s an honour to be here.”
Unfortunately, Slovakia eliminated Australia on Sunday in a 2-0 defeat, advancing to the semifinal. In previous years, Australia has performed strongly in the Billie Jean King Cup, becoming finalists in 2019 and 2022. But Joint jumped at the opportunity to learn from the Australian team and wear green and gold for the first time.
As the fall season winds down this week, these new players are bringing professional experience and early accolades into the spring. After Waco, the team will play at home for the Texas Invitational kicking off the spring season on Jan. 10.
