HomeArticlesHarvard's Kennedy Wins 2017 Women's Individual Championship

Harvard’s Kennedy Wins 2017 Women’s Individual Championship

Harvard UniversityHanover, NH — Georgina Kennedy of Harvard defeated Reeham Sedky of Penn 3-1 to win the Ramsay Cup and the national individual title.

Kennedy, a first-year player with an accomplished junior record, played number two for the Crimson this season, helping Harvard win the national team title a week ago.

Sedky, a sophomore who is known as “The Hammer” for her hard-hitting style, came into the tournament as the number one seed. Last year, the 2016 First Team All-American and All Ivy honoree reached the Ramsay Cup final, losing to Trinity’s Kanzy El Defrawy. This year, she defeated Casey Wong (Stanford), Jenny Scherl (Yale), and Kayley Leonard (Harvard), with all wins coming in three games. Kennedy, the number two seed, was equally dominant in her side of the draw. She advanced with wins over Michele Garceau (Cornell), Lucy Beecroft (Yale), and Marie Stephan (Penn).

Kennedy went out to an early lead in game one of today’s final, but Sedky came back to tie the game at 5-all. Sedky maintained the edge through the middle of the game until a stroke to Kennedy tied the game 9-all. Kennedy, who was moving well and maintained control of the T, won the game 11-9.

In game two, Sedky was in control through 8-4. Kennedy pounded a cross-court nick to start a run to game ball. Sedky tied the score at 10-all with a tin from Kennedy. The two players stayed tied through 11-all, and then Kennedy pulled away to win the game 13-11.

Early in game three Sedky stumbled and held her knee, as play was suspended briefly. The Penn sophomore regrouped to build up a 6-3 lead. The game stayed close through 8-8. Kennedy hit several tins and Sedky closed late, winning game three 11-9.

Sedky took the early lead in game four, but Kennedy kept her opponent off balance, taking the lead at 4-3. At 6-4 to Kennedy, Sedky broke her racquet on her leg, prompting the referee to award a conduct stroke against her. In the next point, Kennedy struck Sedky in the face, sending her eye-guards flying. After five minutes of injury time, play resumed with Kennedy tinning at 10-5. Sedky held off several match balls, but Kennedy won the game and match 11-7,

Kennedy joins a long line of women’s individual champions from Harvard, the latest being Amanda Sobhy in 2015. Kennedy is coached at Harvard by Mike Way, the Gregory Lee ’87 and Russell Ball ’88 Endowed Coach for Harvard University, and assistants Luke Hammond and Hameed Ahmed.

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