The RoundHouse | 11/18/2024 4:22:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Xin Tong Wang understands how college tennis works after one year, so she prepared for her second with big goals.
 
"First year, I was so nervous for every match," she said. "This year, I'm relaxed. I enjoy every match."
 
Wang, a sophomore from Hangzhou, China, is certainly playing enjoyable tennis this fall for Wichita State. She plays in the NCAA Singles Championships on Tuesday in Waco, Texas after finishing as runner-up in the ITA Central Region Singles in October. She is the first Shocker to play in the NCAA individuals since Fatima Bizhukova in 2018.
 
Wang plays Katja Wiersholm of California in the first round at 11 a.m. at Baylor's Hurd Tennis Center. The NCAA meet, previously held after the team championships in the spring, is a fall event for the first time.

"She knows she belong with the best players in college tennis," coach Colin Foster said. "She has a belief and a confidence in herself."
 
Wang started to build that confidence as a freshman with a 14-7 singles record and a spot on the All-American Athletic Conference team. This fall, she is 9-2 in singles with wins over opponents from Iowa, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Iowa State, LSU, Penn State, Southern Cal and North Carolina State.
 
She regards a three-set win over Southern Cal's Maia Sung in the ITA All-American Championship as pivotal. She survived a three-and-a-half match against Sung to win 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6).
 
"My opponent had match point, but I kept coming back," Wang said. "I got a lot of confidence from that. That was so important."
 
Sophomore Giorgia Roselli, Wang's doubles partner, said that Wang's ability to remain composed throughout a match stands out. She also sees Wang playing a more relaxed, confident style of tennis.
 
"She is really focused," Roselli said. "She is a complete player – aggressive and at the same time she can defend really well."
 
Foster emphasized focus for all the Shockers this fall in practice. Wang, like many others, is learning how to make the most of each ball in practices and matches.
 
"Everything they do has a purpose," Foster said. "Every rep, every shot. We are raising the level of expectation day in and day out."
 
Wang is thrilled with that expectation and the opportunity to test herself against top competition. So far this fall, she is equal to that task.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.