The University of Akron Athletics
Women's Tennis Signs Ana Rita Pedroso
May 10 | Women's Tennis
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AKRON, Ohio — Ana Rita Pedroso (Porto, Portugal) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Akron and play tennis next fall, head coach Brandon Padgett announced on Tuesday.
"I am excited to have Rita join our tennis family," Padgett said. "I am confident that she will contribute to the team immediately, and that she will be an excellent addition. Rita is an under the radar type of player, that I feel will surprise people with her play, and I cannot wait to work with her."
The Porto, Portugal native won the U18 National Team Championship in 2014 and 2015. Pedroso also won the National Team Championship in the Senior Open 2nd Division in 2014 and 2015 as well.
A graduate of the Escola Secundária Garcia de Orta, Pedroso is a three-time U18 Regional and State Championship runner-up in singles play. In 2014, Pedroso was the runner-up in doubles at the U16 Europe Tournament and claimed the singles National Tournament title in U18 Category B.
In January 2015, she became the No. 1 ranked player in the U18 National standings. That same year, Pedroso won both singles and doubles at the U18 National Tournament Category B.
In 2016, Pedroso was the runner-up in both the U18 National Tournament Category A and B. Overall, Pedroso ranked No. 3 in U18 and No. 9 in the Senior Open while being regionally rated No. 2 in U18 and No. 4 in the Senior Open.
"I chose to attend UA because I know that whenever I will have a problem, I am always going to have somebody to support me and help me overcome my difficulties in the classroom and on the tennis court," Pedroso said via email. "Akron is such a great opportunity that will allow me to evolve and to guarantee a great future by representing the Zips!"
Overall, the Zips' roster has a great international flavor as seven of the nine student-athletes hail from other countries.
