ORLANDO, Fla. – Fangran Tian of the UCLA women’s tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships singles tournament at the USTA National Campus Thursday, becoming the first Bruin to reach that stage since 2005.
Tian defeated Kari Miller of Michigan 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals, bouncing back from a two-break-of-serve deficit in the first set and overcoming an early break in the second. An all-freshman showdown with Madison Sieg of crosstown rival USC awaits Tian Friday at a time to be determined.
UCLA was most recently represented in the semifinal round of the NCAA singles tournament in 2005, when Riza Zalameda accomplished the feat. Zalameda was also a freshman when she advanced to the final four.
Miller broke Tian at 1-1 of the first set, and again two games later. Tian answered emphatically, though, taking the next five games – and set – during a stretch in which Miller served three times.
Miller broke Tian out of the gate in the second set and quickly established a 2-0 lead. It was all Tian from then on, however, as the Beijing, China native seized the last six games and overall result. A final rally of near-40 shots ended when Miller’s try went long, sealing the decision.
Tian has twice faced off against Sieg during the 2022-23 season, topping her twice during dual-match play. On March 16 at the Trojans’ David X. Marks Stadium, Sieg was forced to retire, giving Tian a 6-3, 1-0 win. Then, in the April 21 regular-season finale at Los Angeles Tennis Center, Tian prevailed 6-4, 6-3.
???????? ???????????? … Fangran Tian became an #NCAATennis singles semifinalist ??#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/FxuVeKqffi
— UCLA Women’s Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 25, 2023
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