New York University's all-time wins leader, Jimena Menendez, had an historic opening day at the NCAA Division III Women's Individual Tennis Championship in Claremont, CA.

Menendez entered the NCAA's with 60 career singles victories, the most in NYU program history.

Now, she adds two more.

The NYU senior became the first player in program history to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament, defeating a pair of opponents on Saturday, March 24.

In the first round of the single elimination tournament, Menendez faced Sahana Raman of Middlebury College.   

She fell behind 0-3 in the opening set, but battled back before dropping a 7-5 decision.

In the second set, Menendez faced elimination down 2-5. Again, she rallied...and this time prevailed, coming all the way back for a 7-5 win.
  
She again fell behind in the decisive third set, 2-1.  before mounting a comeback and advancing with a 6-4 clinching victory.

"It was a great win for Jimena," said Head Coach Horace Choy. "More than the level of tennis, it showed how strong she is mentally and what a fighter she is. She can back from 0-3 in the first set but lost it, then went down 2-5 in the second before winning five consecutive games to take it."

The second match of the day featured a tilt against Fiona Lee of MIT, and it was not a good start for Menendez as she dropped the first set 6-1.

"I think there was a lot of hangover from the first match," Choy suggested. "But she dug in and showed her heart.

She also showed perseverance, again falling behind 1-5 in the second set and on the brink of elimination. However, Menendez persevered and came all the way back to force a tiebreaker and take the set 7-6 (6). 

"She started to play better, and when the tide turned she was the fresher of the two," Choy explained. 

That proved prophetic, as Lee was forced to retire with Menendez up 4-2.

"What an incredible comeback," Choy added. "She wound up saving six match points. I'm just super happy for her and so proud of her effort."

Menendez moves on to play Jay Xiao of Johns Hopkins University on Sunday. The match is set for 1pm eastern/10am pacific.
   
"I am so happy for her" Choy beamed. "I hope that she gets recognized for what I've know the last two years, that she is one on the best players in the country."

And now an All-American, as well.