ATHENS, Ga. — No. 1 Georgia women’s tennis opened the 2026 dual-match season carrying last season’s championship expectations and immediately tested itself against top competition.
The Bulldogs, coming off the 2025 NCAA national championship, are 1–1 through their first two matches of the team season. Georgia opened with a 6–1 road win over rival Georgia Tech on Jan. 30 before dropping a 5–2 decision at No. 3 North Carolina on Feb. 1.
Georgia enters the spring ranked No. 1 nationally as the defending national champion after finishing last season 29–3 overall, including a 13–2 record in Southeastern Conference play and a 21–3 mark against ranked opponents. The Bulldogs capped that run with a 4–0 sweep of No. 2 Texas A&M in the NCAA championship match in Waco, Texas.
The team season follows the fall individual tournament schedule, which allowed players to gain experience and refine their games before the spring championship segment began.
Georgia’s season opener against Georgia Tech extended its dominance in the rivalry, as the Bulldogs secured the doubles point and won five of six singles matches in Atlanta. Freshman Deniz Dilek won her dual-match debut, while Anastasiia Lopata, Sofia Rojas, Anastasiia Gureva and Emma Dong each recorded singles victories.
Two days later, Georgia faced its first loss of the season at North Carolina. The Bulldogs fell behind early after dropping the doubles point but earned singles wins from Aysegul Mert and Dong. The loss marked Georgia’s first defeat since April 2025.
Georgia now turns its attention to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 6–10, where the Bulldogs will compete against many of the nation’s top programs.
Upcoming matches
- Feb. 6–10: ITA National Team Indoor Championships — Evanston, Ill.
- Feb. 22, 1 p.m.: at South Carolina — Columbia, S.C.
- Feb. 26, 5 p.m.: vs. Ole Miss — Dan Magill Tennis Complex
- Feb. 28, 3 p.m.: vs. LSU — Dan Magill Tennis Complex
- March 6, 5 p.m.: at Vanderbilt — Nashville, Tenn.
- March 12, 5 p.m.: at Texas A&M — College Station, Texas
- March 19, 5 p.m.: vs. Florida — Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Georgia’s lineup depth was a defining factor during last spring’s championship run. Guillermina Grant finished 20–3 in dual singles play, while Dasha Vidmanova posted a 32–5 overall record. Mert provided consistency in the middle of the lineup, and Georgia’s doubles teams frequently secured the opening point during postseason play.
Conference play continues through April before the SEC Tournament in Norman, Oklahoma, from April 15–19. The NCAA Tournament begins May 1.
Georgia will also host the sport’s biggest stage in May. The 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Team Championships are scheduled to be held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, placing Georgia at the center of the national postseason.
