Oklahoma State University Athletics
Adamovic Ready for 2014-15 Season
September 05, 2014 | Cowgirl Tennis
By Elias Williams, OSU media relations
After a successful summer in Europe that included taking home a doubles title, Oklahoma State sophomore Katarina Adamovic foresees big things from herself and her Cowgirl tennis teammates in the upcoming season.
Adamovic came to OSU from Čačak, Serbia in the spring of 2014. After struggling early in the season, she hit her stride and won several key matches for the Cowgirls.
“It was a big process of improvement for me throughout the semester. I started really slow, and I kind of couldn't find myself.” Adamovic said. “The first month was hard for me to adapt, but then after that I had some really good matches, and that gave me confidence. I won a couple of deciding matches, I helped the team and it was really fun playing with these girls.”
Her late-year run of success, which included wins over Oklahoma's Mia Lancaster and Kansas State's Amina St. Hill, propelled her into an even more successful summer campaign in the International Tennis Federation's professional circuit.
“I had some good runs. Quarterfinals, semifinals and I won a doubles title in Romania.” Adamovic said with modesty.
She took the Timisoara Open doubles championship in straight sets with her friend Lina Gjorcheska of Macedonia. It was her second tournament win in two years.
“Kat had a really great summer,” Cowgirl tennis coach Chris Young said. “I am proud of what she accomplished, winning a pro circuit title and several matches.”
In eight events this summer, Adamovic made it to three quarterfinals in singles play and four quarterfinals in doubles play. Because of such an impressive showing, she jumped 70 spots to No. 892 in the World Tennis Association's ranking and expects to have a much-improved 2015 season.
“My goal for the team is to win the Big 12. I think we could really do that because we were so close last year,” she said.
The Cowgirls fell, 4-1, in the Big 12 tournament final to regular season conference champion Baylor. Adamovic said she also wants to reach the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament after Florida sent the Cowgirls home in the round of 32 in 2014.
“We had a good match with Florida and we just have to put a lot of hard work into it because when you do, you get results.” Adamovic said. “We know what we have to do. It's just a matter of working for it.”
Adamovic is clearly no stranger to elite competition, and she welcomes the challenge that the NCAA has to offer.
“I beat some really good girls, who are like top 500 and top 400 in WTA,” she said. “Here, top girls at top colleges are around that ranking, so I now have the confidence that I can compete with anybody.”
The Cowgirls get their first taste of competition next week when they participate in the CCLR Collegiate Invitational in Little Rock, Ark., and the Duke Fall Invitational in Durham, N. C.
“I'm going to go next week to Duke for the first singles college tournament, and I am expecting a lot from myself.” Adamovic said. “After that, we're going to Florida, where we're going to compete in WTAs, so I expect big things from my game.”
Young said he expects the same from the sophomore.
“She continues to develop her game, and I believe she is ready to have a great year,” he said.
This will be Adamovic's first fall semester with the Cowgirls, and despite the unfamiliarity, she says that she is embracing the unknown.
“I don't really know what to expect from college tournaments, but I feel good about my game, my teammates and coaches, and I think we can do a lot this year,” Adamovic said. “We're a young team, and we know what to expect now. I think we'll be even better this year than last.”
The Cowgirls will be hosting the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Central Region Championships at the new, state-of-the-art Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center on Oct. 16-20. Sixty-four of the region's top singles players and doubles teams will participate in the tournament, including several Cowgirls.
