LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – Host UNLV picked up a singles win from junior Coco Zhao during Friday's opening day at the elite Freeman Memorial Championships being held at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.
 
The 21st annual event features individual competitors from four teams ranked in the top 20 in the season's initial ITA rankings -- No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 8 Pepperdine, No. 10 Florida and NO. 16 UCLA – along with the host Rebels.
 
Zhao advanced to the semifinals of the Venetian Draw by downing UCLA's Mia Jovic, 6-2, 6-3. She and partner Cindy Hu are also still alive in doubles after enjoying a first round bye.
 
Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m. with a round of doubles, followed by a round of singles. Admission to all matches is free of charge.
 
2024 FREEMAN MEMORIAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas, NV

TEAM KEY & CURRENT NATIONAL ITA RANKING

Oklahoma State (OSU) 6
Pepperdine (PEPP) 8
Florida (UF) 10
UCLA (UCLA) 16
UNLV (UNLV) 
 
SINGLES (Jan. 12)
 
WYNN DRAW
Lisa Zaar (PEPP) def. #2 Ange Oby (OSU) 6-2, 6-1
#38 Carly Briggs (UF) def. Tian Fangran (UCLA) by default
#13 Anastasiya Komar (OSU) def. Zita Kovacs (UNLV) 6-1, 6-2
#21 Savannah Broadus (PEPP) def. Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
 
BELLAGIO DRAW
#77 Nikki Redelijk (PEPP) def. Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
#53 Lucia Peyre (OSU) def. Avia Lopez (UF) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
#96 Janice Tjen (PEPP) def. Salsa Aher (UNLV) 6-2, 6-3
Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. #60 Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) 6-3, 7-5
 
ARIA DRAW
Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Alicia Dudeney (UF) 6-2, 6-4
#62 Safiya Carrington (OSU) def. Jasmine Conway (PEPP) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Malwina Rowinska (UF) def. Cindy Hu (UNLV) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
Anne Lutkmeyer (UCLA) def. #79 Anna Campana (PEPP) 6-3, 7-5
 
VENETIAN DRAW
Raquel Gonzales (OSU) def. #99 Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
Vivian Yang (PEPP) def. Sophie Williams (UF) 6-1, 6-0
Coco Zhao (UNLV) def. Mia Jovic (UCLA) 6-2, 6-3
Bente Spee (UF) def. Kristina Novak (OSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
 
DOUBLES (Jan. 12)
 
RED ROCK DRAW
#4 Janice Tjen/Savannah Broadus (PEPP) def. Zita Kovacs/Salsa Aher (UNLV) 6-2
#38 Malwina Rowinska/Qavia Lopez (UF) def. Elise Wagle/Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 7-6 (3)
Alicia Dudenay/Bente Spee (UF) def. Lisa Zaar/Jasmine Conway (PEPP) 6-3
#6 Ange Oby/Anastasiya Komar (OSU) def. Tian Fangran/Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) 6-2
 
CAESARS DRAW
Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkmeyer (UCLA) def. Aura Fang/Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) 6-3
Raquel Gonzales/Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. Sara Dahlstrom/Sophie Williams (UF) 6-4
Kristina Novak/Safiya Carrington (OSU) def. Nikki Redelijk/Vivian Yang (PEPP) 6-3
Coco Zhao/Cindy Hu (UNLV) BYE