No. 5 Gabriela Knutson’s singles season came to an end Friday morning after No. 22 Mayar Sherif Ahmed of Pepperdine defeated Syracuse’s first singles in a tight two-set affair, 6-4, 7-5. The pair went back and forth most of the afternoon, but Sherif won big points at the end of sets to book her spot in the NCAA women’s tennis quarterfinals.

Knutson was the aggressor from the opening point, but Sherif used a slice backhand early on to throw Knutson off her rhythm and force errors. Sherif grabbed the break of serve and consolidated it on her own service, winning both games at deuce to take a 2-0 lead.

The SU junior pulled herself level in the match, breaking serve with a big forehand that forced Sherif into an error. Once Knutson held serve comfortably to take her first lead in the match at 4-3, she appeared to have taken control.

Sherif, however, won another deuce down 4-3 to hold serve, then took advantage of Knutson’s mistakes to recapture the lead. Sherif served out the opening set, 6-4.

Knutson took control of the second set early, grabbing a break of serve in the fourth game. With a 3-1 lead, Knutson needed to hold serve to consolidate her break. Knutson missed a forehand into the net down break point, then slammed an extra tennis ball into the side fence and walked to her chair.

Sherif and Knutson traded serves for the ensuing five games, until Knutson, again, faltered at the end of the set. On serve at 5-all, Knutson was broken at love. As her forehand hit the net, Sherif fist pumped and jogged to her chair, as Knutson stood at mid-court in disbelief.

Knutson fought her way to break point on deuce, needing a break to keep her tournament hopes alive. But Sherif hit a crosscourt backhand winner to finish the match, 7-5, ending Knutson’s singles season and causing her to fall short of the quarterfinals goal she set before the tournament.

Her season continues as she partners with Miranda Ramirez in doubles at 1:30 p.m., playing for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Published on May 25, 2018 at 12:39 pm

Contact Anthony: amdabbun@syr.edu | @AnthonyDabbundo