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Syracuse drastically struggled in doubles play last year. Despite some success in nonconference play, it took eight matches for SU to secure its first Atlantic Coast Conference doubles point. Against Georgia Tech on Feb. 25, 2024, Shiori Ito and Miyuka Kimoto ended the drought for the Orange, cruising to a 6-3 win in their match.

Later that season, Syracuse went five games without winning a doubles match. Head coach Younes Limam has harped on improving the team’s doubles play throughout the fall, and SU passed its first test Wednesday.

In its first contest of the season, Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC) swept Cornell (0-1, 0-0 Ivy League) in doubles play en route to a convincing 6-1 victory. Syracuse dominated in all facets, but its doubles performance stymied any chance of a Cornell upset in the early goings.

Anastasia Sysoeva and Kimoto were in the No. 1 doubles spot for the Orange. Kimoto, fresh off an NCAA Tournament victory in 2024, imposed her will early on in the match. Cornell battled early, but Sysoeva and Kimoto overpowered the Big Red’s Sage Loudon and Jenny Wong to win 6-2.

“We thought to try some different things from last season,” Limam said following the win. “We have some new players on our roster, so we are trying to see who matches with each other.”

Limam experimented with doubles pairings in the fall. In four of the Orange’s preseason tournaments, Limam opted to switch up the combinations consistently.

Nelly Knezkova, paired with Ito for most of the fall season, opened in the No. 2 doubles spot with freshman Monika Wojcik versus the Big Red’s Victoria Zhao and Michelle Ryndin. The match was deadlocked at 2-2 before Knezkova and Wojcik found their rhythm. The duo won four out of the next five games to win 6-3. Wojcik, the No. 52 prospect in the United States, shined in her SU doubles debut.

“We kept our energy really high. We are both aggressive players, so we put the pressure on them,” Knezkova said.

Syracuse clinched the doubles point before Serafima Shastova and Ito won the final doubles match 7-5 against Alexandra Savu and Seychelle Balog. At 5-5 and 30-30, Cornell had a chance to take the lead, but the veteran Ito and aggressive Shastova proved to be too much to handle.

“I am very pleased with the things we saw today,” Limam said. “I am proud of how we carried that momentum to the finish line.”

Published on January 22, 2025 at 10:17 pm