Kobelt’s US Open run ends in sectional final
Photo/Mark Nash
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Maddie Kobelt’s run at the U.S. Open Midwest Sectional Qualifying tournament came to an end with a 5-7, 3-6 loss to top-seeded Nelle Youel of Northern Illinois in Tuesday’s final.
Kobelt steamrolled through her first four opponents at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. She dropped only one set, which was during her 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 semifinal win over Alexandra Thurman of Miami (Ohio).
Though disappointed with the loss, Kobelt said it was a memorable experience.
“You get that far and you want the result, you want the win,” Kobelt said. “But I was just really happy to be out there and to play and to have the opportunity.”
In addition to Thurman, Kobelt beat Hailey Barrett of West Virginia, Northwestern signee Madeline Lipp, and Illinois signee Alexis Casati, before losing to Youel.
“To be honest, I was surprised she lost,” Syracuse University head coach Luke Jensen said. “I thought she was going to really rip through.”
A win would have given Kobelt one of 13 spots reserved for sectional winners at the women’s singles U.S. Open National Playoffs at Yale University. The tournament runs from August 16-19 and qualifies players for the U.S. Open at USTA National Tennis Center later that month.
The senior will begin her final season with Syracuse next spring. She will captain the team along with senior Aleah Marrow. Kobelt is ranked No. 1,502 nationally in singles, according to wtatennis.com.
Kobelt said that she’s been doing everything possible this summer to help prepare herself for the team’s move to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“I’m trying to do what I can to make myself better and to make the team better,” Kobelt said. “I want to help push us forward and get our feet in the door during the ACC.”
Jensen agreed that her sectional performance was only an indication of what’s to come in Kobelt’s last season.
“She’s really preparing herself in the offseason to be ready for that monster that’s coming up, which is the ACC conference,” Jensen said. “It’s her final season, and I know she really wants to make her mark for SU before she moves on.”