Auburn Pushes No. 1 Georgia to the Brink in Historic ITA Semifinal Run
EVANSTON, Ill. - Auburn women’s tennis didn’t just show up to the 2026 ITA National Team Indoor Championship - they made a statement. The No. 4-ranked Tigers took it to top-ranked Georgia in a thrilling semifinal showdown that came down to the final court. And while Auburn ultimately fell 4-3, this was the deepest run in program history, and it came with plenty of fight, fire, and a glimpse of what could be a special season ahead.
Let’s be clear: Auburn had Georgia - the defending national champs - on the ropes. The Tigers grabbed the doubles point and won five of six first sets in singles.
That’s not just a good start; that’s the blueprint for taking down a powerhouse. But Georgia, as elite teams tend to do, found another gear late and clawed back with three gritty three-set wins to escape with the victory.
“We put ourselves in a great position,” said Auburn head coach Jordan Szabo. “Winning the doubles point, winning five first sets - that’s what you want against a team like Georgia.
But they showed why they’re champions. They were composed in the big moments, and we’ve got to learn from that.”
Doubles Dominance Sets the Tone
Auburn came out swinging in doubles, and the energy was electric from the jump. At No. 2, Angella Okutoyi and Ava Esposito made quick work of Georgia’s Anastasiia Lopata and Patricja Paukstyte, cruising to a 6-1 win and putting the Tigers in control early.
Georgia answered at No. 1 doubles, setting up a high-stakes decider on Court 3. That’s where Ekaterina Khairutdinova and Ashton Bowers came through in the clutch. After earning a break on a deciding point to go up 4-3, the Auburn duo held their nerve - and their serve - to close out a 6-4 win and secure the doubles point.
Momentum Rolls into Singles - But Georgia Pushes Back
With the 1-0 lead in hand, Auburn kept the pressure on in singles. The Tigers took the first set on five courts, and it looked like they might just run away with it.
Ava Esposito continued her strong form at No. 5 singles, taking down No. 42 Sofia Rojas in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Esposito’s serve was clicking - three aces in the final game of the first set - and her composure in tight moments helped Auburn stretch the lead to 2-0.
Georgia got on the board with a win at No. 3 singles, but Auburn wasn’t done. At No.
4, Ashton Bowers stayed undefeated in dual matches this season with a composed 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 33 Anastasiia Gureva.
That pushed Auburn’s lead to 3-1 - and had the Tigers just one win away from the final.
But that’s when Georgia dug in.
Championship DNA Shows Late
Georgia needed to win the final three matches - and they did it the hard way, with all three going the distance.
At No. 6, Emma Dong rallied after dropping the first set to take down Eva Ionescu.
On Court 1, Auburn senior DJ Bennett came out firing, dominating the first set 6-1 over Lopata. But Lopata flipped the script in the second and third, eventually breaking Bennett at 4-4 in the final set and sealing a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 win.
That left everything riding on Court 2.
Khairutdinova looked poised to be the hero early, taking the first set 6-3 and building a 5-3 lead in the second against fourth-ranked Aysegul Mert. But Mert showed why she’s one of the best in the country. She forced a tiebreaker, edged it 7-5, and then held off a late push in the third to win 6-4 - clinching the match for Georgia.
What’s Next for the Tigers
This loss stings, no doubt. But it also signals just how far this Auburn team has come - and how high the ceiling is. At 13-1, the Tigers are off to the best start in program history, and they just went toe-to-toe with the nation’s top team without one of their key players, Merna Refaat.
Szabo summed it up best: “The sky is the limit. This setback can be the fuel that makes us better.”
Auburn heads back home for a Sunday doubleheader against Grand Canyon and Middle Tennessee State at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. First serve is set for 10 a.m. CT, and fans can expect more than just high-level tennis - free admission, cotton candy, and a kids' clinic after the afternoon match make it a full day of family fun.
This team isn’t done. Not even close.