The University of Akron Athletics
Tennis Signs Russian Standout to 2010-11 Class
May 27 | Women's Tennis
- Natalia Kuvakina, who hails from St. Petersburg, Russia, has signed a national letter of intent to compete for the University of Akron tennis team beginning in the 2010-11 season.
"We are very excited to have Natalia join the Zips tennis family this August," fourth-year UA head coach Jeffrey Wyshner said. "She is an absolutely top-notch student with an outstanding work ethic both in the classroom and on the tennis court. In limited International Tennis Federation tournament play she has already shown herself capable of competing with some of the top juniors in the world, and I know she is eager to see how much better she can get given the regular practice and competitive opportunities she will have here."
In February, Kuvakina earned a career-high ITF ranking of No. 597, and in 2008 was ranked No. 29 in the European Tennis Association's Under 16 group. A complete profile is available below.
Kuvakina will be the second member of the UA squad to call St. Petersburg home, joining senior-to-be Anya Baronayte with that distinction. Kuvakina plans on pursuing a degree in civil engineering.
Natalia
Kuvakina
St. Petersburg, Russia (High School Plus St. Petersburg),
5-10
Prior to Akron: Held a career-high
International Tennis Federation ranking of No. 597 in February 2010
... European Tennis Association Under 16 top ranking of No. 29 in
July 2008 ... National Under 16 top ranking of No. 25 in August
2007 ... Reached quarterfinals of 2009 St. Petersburg Governor Cup,
with a 7-6 (2), 1-6, 7-6 (6) win over Julia Valetova (Valetova
boasts a career-high ITF ranking of No. 169).
Personal: Born May 2, 1992 ... daughter of Vadim
Kuvakin and Svetlana Kuvakina ... mother is employed by the
Department of Statistics and father is a financial consultant ...
favorite book is The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco ...
favorite movie is Sobachye Serdtse (Heart of a Dog) ...
favorite tennis player is Roger Federer ... craziest ambition is to
build a bridge across the Bering Strait (plans on majoring in civil
engineering at Akron) ... favorite quotations: "Success doesn't
come to you, you go for it" and "Formal education will make you a
living. Self-education will make you a fortune."
Why Akron?
"I chose Akron because it offered an excellent opportunity for
learning in an engineering major, and for the opportunity to play
on an improving team with strong players and experienced coaches.
Akron offers a high level of education and tennis."
Players Mentioned
