Texas Tech University Athletics
Former Texas Tech Women’s Tennis Star Gabriela [Talaba] Lee Attempts to Qualify for Australian Open
January 10, 2022 | Women's Tennis
The former Big 12 Player of the Year will need to win three matches beginning Monday night at 5 p.m. (CT)
LUBBOCK, Texas – One of the most decorated players in Texas Tech women's tennis history, Gabriela [Talaba] Lee begins her attempt to qualify for the 2022 Australian Open beginning Monday night at 5 p.m. (CT).
Lee will face Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia Monday night. If the former Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2015) is able to defeat No. 8 Rakhimova, she would advance to meet the winner of Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva/Anastasia Zakharova in the second round. The winner of that match will play for a spot in the 2022 Australian Open main draw.
The first major of the 2022 professional calendar, the Aussie Open begins in earnest next Monday (Jan. 17) on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+).
The all-time Texas Tech leader in No. 1 singles wins was a four-time All-Big selection and helped lead the Red Raiders to four straight Sweet 16 appearances and a pair of Elite Eight appearances during her decorated career in Lubbock.
The 2016-17 Big 12 Player of the Year (first in school history), Lee was a combined 83-30 in her singles career and recorded 26 wins in 50 matches against ranked opponents.
Tech opens its 2022 spring season on Friday when they head to Southern California for the San Diego Invitational hosted by the University of San Diego. The field includes host San Diego, Big 12 foe Kansas, SEC member Ole Miss and three ranked PAC-12 schools (No. 5 UCLA, No. 17 Stanford and No. 18 USC).
--TECH--
