ATHENS, Ga. — Sophomore Megan Falcon of the LSU women’s tennis team continues her relentless attack on the nation’s top competition as she eliminated No. 12-ranked Zsuzsanna Fodor of California, 6-1, 6-4, in the round of 16 Friday morning at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
The sophomore sensation will face seventh-seeded Natalie Frazier of Georgia in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Frazier advanced to the quarterfinals after outlasting Theresa Logar of Stanford, 6-0, 5-7, 7-6 (6.) Falcon and Frazier squared off in March, where Falcon won in three sets.
Falcon has won 27 straight matches and holds a remarkable 37-2 record this season.
“I started the match off really well today,” Falcon said. “I got a little bit tight and had to overcome some nerves but things worked out in the end.”
Falcon is the first Lady Tiger to advance to the quarterfinals since Bruna Colosio did it in 2001. Colosio also reached the quarterfinals in 2000. Colosio, Falcon and Suzana Rodrigues (1994) are the only Lady Tigers to reach the quarterfinals. No Lady Tiger as advanced to the semifinals.
In the first set, Falcon held a 2-1 advantage when she broke Fodor in the fourth game to extend her lead to 3-1. Falcon clinched the next two games and held serve without allowing a point in the seventh game to give her the first set.
Fodor went up 3-2 in the early goings of the second set. Falcon bounced back to take the next three games to go up 5-3. After Fodor held serve in the ninth game, Falcon pushed herself into the quarterfinals by taking the final game.
Falcon has had the support of her friends and family throughout the tournament. Falcon’s mother, grandparents and one of her uncle’s have been cheering for their favorite Lady Tiger at all of her matches. As the All-American continues to advance, the crowds watching her matches have increased along the way.
“This was Megan’s best match so far this tournament,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “Fodor is a top-10 player and very crafty. I thought Megan had a flawless first set but she played a little tighter in the second. She found a way to come through and with her back against the wall she played unbelievable.
“Megan competes so hard and gives such a great effort that it makes her fun to watch. If she continues to play at this level, more and more fans will come to her matches and that crowd support will defiantly help.”
NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles Championship
May 23, 2007
Round of 64
(2) #2 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. #54 Renata Kucerkova (Fresno St.), 6-1, 6-3
Round of 32
May 24, 2007
(2) #2 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. #30 Catrina Thompson (Notre Dame), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Round of 16
May 25, 2007
(2) #2 Megan Falcon (LSU) def. (9-16) #12 Zsuzsanna Fodor (California), 6-1, 6-4
Quarterfinal
(2) #2 Megan Falcon (LSU; 37-2 overall) vs. (7) #7 Natalie Frazier (Georgia), 11 a.m. CT