Five Freshmen Join the Bulldogs, Three Set for Cary

University of Georgia Women's Tennis

By Anna La                                                                           

ATHENS, Ga. – With fresh energy, talent, and multicultural backgrounds, five freshmen have joined the Georgia women's tennis team this fall. It’s the largest and most diverse entering class in the program’s recent history, making up half of the current 11-player team. The newcomers bring both potential and uncertainty as they adapt to the demands of collegiate tennis while juggling their roles as student-athletes. 

The ITA Women’s All-American Championships, set for Sept. 20–28 at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina, will mark an early test for the newcomers. However, the 2025–2026 season will extend beyond Cary. The fall emphasizes individual competition, while the spring focuses on team play, concluding with the NCAA Team Championships at Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia, May 14–17. How quickly the Bulldogs' newcomers adapt will significantly impact the team's success. 

Three of the five freshmen, Anastasiia Gureva, Patricija Paukstyte and Deniz Dilek, are set to compete in Cary. Gureva and Paukstyte are in the qualifying singles draw, where the top 16 players advance to the main draw, while Dilek will start in the pre-qualifying singles draw, where she must advance two rounds before making the main draw.

Gureva, a native of Russia, attended the Alexander Waske Tennis-University high school in Frankfurt, Germany, before arriving in Athens. She is ranked No. 92 nationally and No. 9 among newcomers in the preseason. She has found the transition to life in Athens both challenging and rewarding. She explained that her biggest obstacle has not been tennis but balancing the academic and athletic demands of being a student-athlete. 

“It’s been pretty busy, because I need to go to mentoring, tutoring, also have, like, study hall sessions, plus practice every day,” Gureva said. 

Her adjustment has also involved off-court challenges, because some of her transfer credits did not carry over, requiring her to complete additional coursework and a mathematics exam before becoming fully eligible to compete.

Paukstyte, from Lithuania, said what made Georgia’s program unique was not only the strong facilities but also the coaches’ outlook on the future, which motivated her to work even harder. Her adjustment has been eased by her teammates, who have guided her, driving her around, showing her where her classes are, and assisting her in settling into a new environment. Paukstyte has already embraced Athens' culture, recently attending her first football game and experiencing the energy that surrounds Georgia athletics. 

Paukstyte also spoke about how her team has helped her develop on the court. 

“Every practice you play with a different girls, which helps you a lot to improve your game and then get used to different games also on the court.” 

For her, the variety of practice matchups helps her prepare for the season.

In doubles play, ​​Gureva and Paukstyte will be paired for the main draw. Gureva underlined the significance of trust and communication in developing a successful partnership, noting that players must understand situations and personalities to succeed together. 

Dilek, from Turkey, has seen personal growth as a significant part of her journey coming to Athens. 

“I’m actually proud of myself to getting along with people,” Dilek remarked. “I’m kind of an introvert. I don’t like to talk to people, not that much, and I think I accomplished that, having friends outside of tennis and, yeah, in classes.”

As the fall season progresses, this freshman class is expected to gain valuable experiences while growing as individuals, student-athletes and teammates. With the NCAA Championships returning to Athens May 2026, the performance of this freshman class will be critical in determining the Bulldogs’ future success as a team.