Two Harvard players watched from the sideline as their teammate, Rachel Lim, took on No. 67 Miranda Ramirez on Sunday afternoon. Ramirez easily took the first set 6-1.

“This girl is sick,” one remarked to the other.

Ramirez went on to win in straight sets on a slicing shot to the corner. The junior from Texas moved to 7-3 on the season for No. 19 Syracuse (6-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast), including victories over No. 52 Jessica Failla (Pepperdine) and then-No. 36 Chiara Lommer (Michigan). With Sofya Golubovskaya dealing with a shoulder issue, per head coach Younes Limam, Ramirez played the past weekend at second singles for the first time this season. She went 2-0 in the stretch, including a pair of three-game comebacks.

“Miranda’s been playing at a very high level,” Limam said. “… Freshman year, I think, she did play (first singles) most of her freshman year. So we know she can play at that level.”

Ramirez credited her ability to adjust to different styles for her recent success. Limam said it’s been about her court positioning. She’s been more of an aggressive baseliner and has been finishing points at the net, Limam said. Ramirez’s serve has also improved, giving her “free points.”

On Sunday, Ramirez faced Lim, a lefty. Ramirez was given an opportunity to use her one-handed backhand more. Gabriela Knutson said she can’t hit Ramirez’s backhand “at all” and Ramirez’s former coach, Thomas Finck, called Ramirez’s “money shot.” Ramirez has seen so many lefties in her career, pivoting to her go-to stroke is routine.

“It’s always a slightly different game when I play against a lefty,” Ramirez said. “… I was able to adjust right off the bat, and it didn’t faze me at all.”

Ramirez started the spring season unranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings while Knutson sat at No. 43, and Golubovskaya came in at No. 92. In the Feb. 6 iteration, Ramirez climbed to No. 67 while Knutson fell to No. 48, and Golubovskaya fell out of the top 125.

Ramirez, who finished with Knutson as No. 8 in the Oracle/ITA Doubles Final Rankings, is used to the spotlight. Last year, the pair earned All-American honors in doubles. The pair has not been as dominant this season at 6-3, with one match that was left unfinished. Knutson said she believed their match against Purdue on Jan. 27 was on of the best of their careers. But they lost 7-5.

With Ramirez thriving in singles, though, the duo may be just beginning their ascent again after a dominant 6-2 win against Harvard. Their shared history has led them to believe that it’s only a matter of time before the wins in doubles come. As Syracuse rebounds from its four-match losing streak, Ramirez’s play will be crucial.

“So extremely proud of her,” Limam said. “… She’s been playing extremely well for a while now, so good to see.”

Published on February 19, 2019 at 10:56 pm

Contact Eric: estorms@syr.edu