Georgia women’s tennis team member Elena Christofi joined her counterpart on the men’s team, Robert Loeb, being named the SEC Freshman of the Week after helping the Bulldogs to wins on the road over Alabama and Auburn.

 
 
The native from Athens, Greece checks in at No. 18 in the nation in ITA singles, which is the fifth-highest ranking among freshman. This is Christofi’s first career conference award.
 
 
“At Alabama, Elena was really tough, saving a couple match points,” Georgia associate head coach Drake Bernstein said. “I think she is one of the best competitors in the conference. She has had a really good year so far. It is great that she got this honor, it is well served in singles and doubles.”
 
 
In both matches, Christofi clinched the Georgia victory on the No. 2 singles court against a ranked opponent. On Friday, she edged Alabama’s Andie Daniell (#124) in a third-set tiebreaker for a final result of 6-1,2-6,7-6 (8-6). In the Sunday match at Auburn, the freshman defeated No. 102 Taylor Russo 6-3,7-5.
 
 
The Bulldogs earned the doubles point in both contests with clinchers by Christofi and junior Kennedy Shaffer. Christofi and Shaffer form Georgia’s lone ranked duo at No. 58 and are 7-2 overall. The tandem downed Crimson Tide’s team of Danielle Spielmann and Smith Hinton 6-3, then cruised past the 38th-ranked Auburn squad of Georgie Axon and Caroline Turner, 6-1.
 
 
Christofi showcases a team-best 22-4 overall record this season and a 10-1 mark in dual play. In doubles, she is 11-8 overall but 2-1 since starting to play with Shaffer in the spring.
 
 
In this week’s ITA team rankings, Georgia jumped seven spots from No. 13 to No. 6 after beating the Crimson Tide and the Tigers who were ranked 46th and fourth, respectively.