Nevena Carton Records Milestone Win as Women’s Tennis Defeats Liberty

Saturday, February 14

Winston-Salem, N.C.

12 P.M.

Wake Forest University

Liberty

Nevena Carton Records Milestone Win as Women’s Tennis Defeats Liberty

2/14/2026 5:27:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

The Demon Deacons improve to 5-3 on the year with the win.

By: Joseph Baker

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Senior Nevena Carton won her 100th combined career match on Saturday afternoon. She did it by way of a 6-3 doubles victory with partner Kady Tannenbaum in a match that moved Wake Forest (5-3) into an early lead against Liberty (5-3). The Demon Deacons would go on to win, 5-2, and keep their home momentum rolling, improving to 5-0 in Winston-Salem this season. This was the Deacs' first outdoor match of the season after playing their first seven indoors.

Carton didn't slow down after the doubles win. She quickly picked up win No. 101, defeating Liberty's No. 1, Daniella O'Neill, in straight sets for Wake Forest's first singles point of the day. After battling to a thrilling 7-6 (7-5) win in the first set, Carton took the second set 6-3 to cap off her historic day.

Freshman Evie Oxford and junior Sankavi Gownder also went 2-0 on the day, sweeping their doubles match before cruising to straight-set wins. They are both 6-1 in singles play – tied for first on the team.

Wake Forest's lead decreased to 3-2 after Milana Tsulygina and Yoanna Radulova got Liberty on the board with wins. Then, Tannenbaum was the hero, defeating Maria Turchetto in a marathon of a match. She emerged victorious, 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), to clinch the win for Wake Forest. It was the Deacs' fifth consecutive home win– good for their best home start since 2018-19.

With the win, Wake Forest remains undefeated all-time against the Flames. The Deacs are now 5-0 against Liberty and have defeated them in consecutive seasons.

Doubles Results

Nevena Carton/Kady Tannenbaum (WFU) def. Yoanna Radulova/Maria Turchetto (LIB), 6-3
Evie Oxford/Sankavi Gownder (WFU) def. Daniella O'Neill/Milana (LIB), 6-0
Candy Wai/Celina Joseph (LIB) vs. Heidi Bulger/Aubrey Nisbet (WFU), 4-3, unfinished

Order of finish: 2, 1

Singles Results

Nevena Carton (WFU) def. Daniella O'Neill (LIB), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Yoanna Radulova (LIB) def. Krystal Blanch (WFU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
Kady Tannenbaum (WFU) def. Maria Turchetto (LIB), 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 7-6 (8-6)
Milana Tsulygina (LIB) def. Heidi Bulger (WFU), 6-4, 6-4
Evie Oxford (WFU) def. Candy Wai (LIB), 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
Sankavi Gownder (WFU) def. Celina Joseph (LIB), 6-4, 6-1

Order of finish: 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6

How it Happened

Carton/Tannenbaum and Gownder/Oxford jumped on their opponents, with the pairings taking 3-1 and 3-0 doubles leads, respectively.
Gownder/Oxford clinched, 6-0, and did not let O'Neill/Tsulygina win a single set.
Carton/Tannenbaum clinched the point for the Deacs with a 6-3 win.
- This win marked Carton's 100th career overall win.
The match on court three between Bulger/Nisbet and Joseph/Wai was left undecided. Liberty led 4-3.
Liberty took a one-set lead on courts two and four.
Carton earned a hard-fought, 7-6 (7-5) first-set win over Daniella O'Neill on court one.
Three matches went to a first-set tiebreak. Wake Forest won all three (Carton, Tannenbaum, Oxford).
- Liberty took the first set in the other two matches.
Liberty's Milana Tsulygina defeated Heidi Bulger in straight sets to put Liberty on the board.
Carton defeated O'Neill, 6-3, in the second set to win in straight sets.
Blanch and Yoanna Radulova went to a deciding third set after splitting the first two.
- Radulova would go on to clinch Liberty's second, and final, point of the day.
Oxford won her match in straight sets to put Wake Forest on the brink of victory.
Tannenbaum clinched the match with a back-and-forth victory on court three.
Sankavi Gownder won in straight sets to cap off the Deacs' win.

From Coach Wyshner
"Really excited with how we played today. We played a really good doubles point and then had six hard-fought singles matches. There were some really high-pressure moments for us, and we handled them fantastically and played well when it mattered most. It was our first outdoor match after only one outdoor practice. Special thanks to everyone in ops and facilities for getting courts 7-12 ready for us on an emergency short notice. It was also fun having Abilities Tennis of North Carolina athletes at our match today. We really appreciate their support of the Deacs!"

Up Next
The Demon Deacons will prepare for a busy three-match weekend ahead. They will host Charlotte (Feb. 20), William & Mary (Feb. 21) and Appalachian State (Feb. 22).