Not done yet: Anna Turati to return to Texas women’s tennis for fifth season

July 10, 2020February 20, 2022 Steve Lansdale

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — Anna Turati did not lose often during her three-plus seasons playing tennis for the University of Texas, going 94-16 in singles and 52-29 in doubles before the covid-19 pandemic cut short her senior season … and she has no interest in losing to coronavirus.

The No. 4 player in the final Oracle/ITA singles rankings announced Thursday that she intends to take advantage of the extra season the NCAA granted to student-athletes competing in the spring and will return to UT for the 2020-21 season.

“Longhorn Nation, I’ve decided to come back to Austin for my senior season in 2021,” Turati said in a statement released by the Texas athletic department. “I couldn't accept the fact that the coronavirus took away my last season as a Longhorn, so I want to end my college career on my own terms.

“I know this is the right decision for me, as I can continue to develop and train at a high level with such an amazing staff and team. I also will be able to complete my degree at one of the top academic universities in the world. I'm sure that this experience here at UT is preparing me best for my future, both on and off the court.”

Turati’s tenure with the Longhorns has been an unquestionable success. In three-plus seasons, she has a career overall singles mark of 94-16, including a 58-8 record in dual-match play, and went 52-29 in doubles, including a 43-22 record in dual-match play.

A 2020 ITA singles All-America honoree, Turati finished the season ranked No. 4 in the final Oracle/ITA national singles ranking, which was released March 3. She was named the 2020 ITA Texas Regional Most Improved Senior, and she shared the 2020 ITA Texas Regional Senior Player of the Year honors with her twin sister and frequent doubles partner, Bianca.

“I’m so thrilled for Anna, for Texas and for our 2020-21 Longhorn women's tennis edition," Texas head coach Howard Joffe said. “Anna’s return to the Forty Acres will see her finish up her undergraduate coursework and allow her to punctuate her collegiate tennis career on her terms. Her outrageously brilliant 58-8 (dual-match singles) record wearing Texas on her back only speaks to the wins she has tallied. It says nothing of the leadership, love and support that she has afforded her teammates and will do for a 2020-21 team featuring four true freshmen.”