Shastova cruised in the opening set, breaking in both of Benton’s first two service games on her way to a 6-1 victory. However, Benton battled back in the second set, grabbing two early breaks of her own and matching Shastova with a 6-1 victory to push the match into a final frame.
In the third, Shastova began with three strong holds of serve to match three comfortable holds by Benton. In the seventh game with Shastova serving, Benton overcame a 40-0 deficit to force a deuce point, on which Shastova ended a lengthy rally with a cross-court backhand winner to secure a hold and maintain a 4-3 advantage.
With Benton serving in the next game, Shastova erased a deficit of her own, rallying from 30-0 down to set up a pair of break points at 30-40. Benton saved the first to set up deuce, but missed a forehand on the ensuing point to give Shastova the break and a 5-3 lead. She went on to hold at love to clinch the singles title.
Shastova is the fourth Syracuse player to win a singles championship at an ITA Regional tournament in the Younes Limam era, joining Gabriela Knutson (2017), Valeria Salazar (2016) and Anna Shkudun (2014).
By winning the title, Shastova has secured a berth at the NCAA Individual Championships, which Baylor will host from Nov. 19-24. This will be the second straight season a Syracuse player has qualified for singles at the NCAA Individual Championships, following Miyuka Kimoto from earlier this spring.
Full results for both singles and doubles events at ITA New England Regionals can be found by clicking here.
UP NEXT
The Orange will next compete at the Cornell Invitational on Oct. 25-27.
RESULTS
Singles
Serafima Shastova (Syracuse) def. Olivia Benton (Boston College) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
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