Petty Adds Talaba To Tennis Roster
December 15, 2014 | Women's Tennis
Gabriela Talabă, who won the 2014 Romania Senior Championship, will join the Lady Raiders in January.
December 15, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas - Romanian national champion Gabriela Talabă has signed a financial grant in aid agreement and will join Texas Tech in January, announced Lady Raider head coach Todd Petty.
Talabă, a native of Bucharest, Romania, was ranked third in the country of Romania in 2013, she was ranked No. 206 in the world as a junior and ended 2014 ranked No. 529 in the world by the WTA.
Talabă improved her world ranking in singles from 1005 in January to 549 in December. In doubles, she saw herself climb from No. 1 744 to No. 551.
"I cannot tell you how excited we are to have Gabi join us in January," said Petty. "She is an elite player on the highest level and has the ability to make an immediate impact in the spring. Gabi has an amazing academic resume as well as athletic; she will be a tremendous student-athlete for the Lady Raiders."
Talabă won the Romanian Senior Championships singles title in October at Romanian Tennis Center. Talabă topped close friend and club-mate Oana Simon. Ironically, Talabă teamed with Simon to win the 2011 Romanian Junior Championships doubles title.
Talabă also won the 2011 Wilson-Tivoli Trophy Timisoara after earning a wildcard into the event. Talabă ran the table, dropping Jelena Dzinic (No. 223), Anna Veleva (No. 414), Julia Grabher (No. 57), Lilla Barzo (No. 70) and Barbara Kotelesova (No. 134) en route to the title. She also teamed with Ana Bianca Mihala to win the 2011 ITF/CAT Egypt Junior Tournament. She was also a semifinalist in singles and a champion in doubles at the 2013 Trofeul D. Sturda International ITF Juniors Tournament.
Since turning 18, Talabă advanced to the semifinals on the ITF circuit 12 times. She was 31-17 in singles and 24-17 in doubles on the ITF Circuit during the 2013 calendar year, participating in 17 events.