CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Wichita State women's tennis player Xin Tong Wang finished in the semifinals in both singles and doubles of the International Tennis Federation's Fighting Illini Open in Champaign, Illinois on Friday. 
 
Head Coach Colin Foster was incredibly impressed with his freshman's performance this week.
 
"Xin Tong worked hard this semester on the court and in the classroom," said Foster. "She just got certified for a competition a few weeks ago and we were fortunate to get her into two professional events and one college event before our fall season concluded."
 
Wang, a freshman from Hangzhuo, China, had an incredible week, collecting five victories in the tournament across doubles and singles.
 
For singles, Wang began her campaign in Champaign with a win over Arkansas' Kelly Keller in the opening round of 32. She followed that with a come from behind win against Auburn signee and blue-chip prospect Ashton Bowers in the round of 16. 
 
Now in the quarterfinals, Wang defeated top-seeded and former college standout Rhiann Newborn. Newborn was once ranked as a top 700 women's tennis player in the world and was recently ranked as high as #816 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).
 
Wang's singles run in Illinois came to an end Friday afternoon when she lost to North Carolina State's Gina Marie Dittman in a highly competitive match.
 
As for doubles, Wang was paired with Safiya Carrington of Oklahoma State, a player who is coming off a 20-win season in singles last year.
 
The Wang/Carrington duo got off to a quick start with a win over the pair of Kida Ferrari and Alice Xu.
 
The duo carried their success into the quarterfinals where they ran into the aforementioned Newborn and Mary Lewis who were the tournament's top-seeded pairing. Wang and Carrington picked up the victory in a decisive third set.
 
The Shocker/Cowgirl duo would ultimately fall to a duo of Oklahoma State Cowgirls in Raquel Gonzales and Ayumi Miyamot in the semifinals, but the two still found plenty of success, and capped off an excellent weekend for Wang.
 
"Xin Tong prepares like a pro. She did well to rise to the occasion in several three set matches in her singles and doubles," said Foster. "These tournaments provide valuable ranking points and as importantly, she got to face a bunch of high-level competition which will give her a springboard as we transition into our off-season."
 
Wang will look to continue her success in this tournament into the spring season which begins in January.

FULL RESULTS
Singles
R32: Wang (WSU) def. Keller (ARK) 6-3, 6-3
R16: Wang (WSU) def. Bowers 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
QF: Wang (WSU) def. Newborn 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
SF: Dittman (NCS) def. Wang (WSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-0

Doubles (Wang/Carrington)
R16: Wang/Carrington def. Ferrari/Xu 6-2, 6-3
QF: Wang/Carrington def. Newborn/Lewis 3-6, 6-1, 11-0
SF: Gonzalez/Miyamoto def. Wang/Carrington 7-6 (1), 6-2