Anastasia Sysoeva’s perfect match helps Syracuse tennis slay BU
Despite missing SU’s previous match, Anastasia Sysoeva played a perfect match against Boston University Sunday. Peter Radosh | Asst. Copy Editor
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Anastasia Sysoeva’s absence was felt in Syracuse’s Feb. 7 loss against UMass.
Entering Sunday’s matchup against Boston University at Drumlins Country Club, Sysoeva held a singles record of 2-2. However, she remained undefeated in doubles, winning against Cornell and Fordham along with competing in unfinished matches against Florida Atlantic and Florida International. In the Cuse’s 4-3 loss against UMass, Sysoeva did not play. When asked why, SU head coach Younes Limam didn’t explain.
However, Sysoeva didn’t miss a beat in her return to the court against BU (3-3, Patriot) Sunday. With a comeback win in doubles and a flawless, perfect match in singles, Sysoeva propelled Syracuse (3-3, Atlantic Coast) to a 5-2 victory, helping the Orange end a three-game losing streak.
With Sysoeva back in the lineup on Sunday, the rest of the team could move back to their usual positions.
Sysoeva started the match with Nelly Knezkova at No. 1 doubles against BU’s Nancy Liu and Vasilisa Borisova. Liu was a Division II All-American last year at Rollins before transferring to Boston University. Sysoeva started out strong, knocking powerful serves across the court to force a weak return into the net or out of play, leading No. 1 doubles to quickly win the first game.
However, the Terriers would hit their stride and start winning points off of the Orange. Despite Syracuse flipping the side of play with a shot down the opposite line, BU would take a promising 4-2 lead in the set.
Sysoeva and Knezkova were not fazed. They stormed back and, with another strong serve from Sysoeva, took the lead 5-4. ITA’s 15th-ranked doubles team didn’t look back, taking the set 6-4 to help the Orange secure the doubles point for the second time this weekend.
“We were down 3-1, and it was a deuce point,” Limam said. “It could have gone either way, but (I) really loved how they really stayed the course.”
Less than ten minutes into Sysoeva’s No. 2 singles match, she already led 3-0 over Ellie Gyuro. She then pressed her foot harder on the gas, swiftly sweeping the first set 6-0.
The second set was the same story. With her powerful backhand and suffocating serves, Sysoeva kept control and swept the second set 6-0, staying perfect. This marks the first time a Syracuse player has swept both sets this season.
On a day where every other singles match could swing either way, Sysoeva set the tone by quickly winning her match. In doing so, she added a cushion for her teammates, who only had to lock down two more singles matches to secure the victory.
“She works really hard,” doubles partner Knezkova said. “She put us on the scoreboard quickly… and it was great to see her competing there.”
