Photo by: Suvir Grover
Brantmeier & Hamilton Advance To US Open 2nd Round
August 28, 2025 | Women's Tennis
NEW YORK, N.Y.—The University of North Carolina's Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton won their debut professional match together on Thursday, topping fellow Americans Thea Frodin and Kristina Penickova, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8), in the first round of the women's doubles competition at the US Open.
With the victory, Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced to the second round, where they will meet fourth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, who blanked unseeded Suzan Lamens and Eva Lys in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, on Thursday.
The Tar Heel All-America duo clinched a main draw wild-card entry into the Open by winning the American Collegiate Wildcard Playoffs in mid-June. Fordin and Penickova had won the Girls' Doubles title at the USTA U18s National Championships in San Diego to earn a wildcard spot in the main draw at the US Open.
Brantmeier, a UNC senior, and Hamilton, a sophomore, dominated the first set and wore down their younger opponents in the third set tiebreak. Brantmeier and Hamilton won 78 percent of their first serves and committed just 24 unforced errors to 49 by Frodin and Penickova.
In the first set, the Tar Heels broke Penickova to take a 4-2 lead, then Hamilton held serve for a commanding, 5-2 lead. Frodin and Penickova cut it to 5-3 after winning an epic game that included seven deuce points and seven set points by the Tar Heel duo. Brantmeier served next, racing to a 40-0 lead before eventually winning to capture the first set, 6-3.
After Frodin and Penickova rolled to a 6-1 win in a quick second set, Brantmeier served to a win in a competitive first game of the third and final set, only to see Frodin and Penickova tie it up with a strong second game. After the Tar Heels took a 3-2 lead, they broke Frodin without giving up a point for a 4-2 advantage.
Hamilton served next and cruised to a 5-2 lead without allowing a point. Frodin and Penickova then rallied for three consecutive wins to tie the set score at 5-all with Hamilton set to serve. She dominated for a 6-5 lead.
Later, in the third-set tiebreak with the score tied, 8-8, Brantmeier served for a 9-8 lead, before an unforced error by Frodin led to the 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8) win.
With the victory, Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced to the second round, where they will meet fourth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, who blanked unseeded Suzan Lamens and Eva Lys in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0, on Thursday.
The Tar Heel All-America duo clinched a main draw wild-card entry into the Open by winning the American Collegiate Wildcard Playoffs in mid-June. Fordin and Penickova had won the Girls' Doubles title at the USTA U18s National Championships in San Diego to earn a wildcard spot in the main draw at the US Open.
Brantmeier, a UNC senior, and Hamilton, a sophomore, dominated the first set and wore down their younger opponents in the third set tiebreak. Brantmeier and Hamilton won 78 percent of their first serves and committed just 24 unforced errors to 49 by Frodin and Penickova.
In the first set, the Tar Heels broke Penickova to take a 4-2 lead, then Hamilton held serve for a commanding, 5-2 lead. Frodin and Penickova cut it to 5-3 after winning an epic game that included seven deuce points and seven set points by the Tar Heel duo. Brantmeier served next, racing to a 40-0 lead before eventually winning to capture the first set, 6-3.
After Frodin and Penickova rolled to a 6-1 win in a quick second set, Brantmeier served to a win in a competitive first game of the third and final set, only to see Frodin and Penickova tie it up with a strong second game. After the Tar Heels took a 3-2 lead, they broke Frodin without giving up a point for a 4-2 advantage.
Hamilton served next and cruised to a 5-2 lead without allowing a point. Frodin and Penickova then rallied for three consecutive wins to tie the set score at 5-all with Hamilton set to serve. She dominated for a 6-5 lead.
Later, in the third-set tiebreak with the score tied, 8-8, Brantmeier served for a 9-8 lead, before an unforced error by Frodin led to the 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8) win.
Amazing effort to win this point 🤯
— Carolina Women's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@UNC_wtennis) August 28, 2025
Reese & Alanis take the first set 6-3
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/y0YRqjKCGz
A big serve puts the Heels on top in the third set 💥
— Carolina Women's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@UNC_wtennis) August 28, 2025
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/7Zez2bOeTy
MATCH POINT ➡️ HEELS
— Carolina Women's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@UNC_wtennis) August 28, 2025
Reese & Alanis advance with a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8) first round win! pic.twitter.com/4AugKLlIMD
See y'all in the SECOND ROUND 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Go9JiTWbJd
— Carolina Women's Tennis 🐏🎾 (@UNC_wtennis) August 28, 2025
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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