Tennessee women's tennis coach Alison Ojeda announced Friday the signing of Antonia Vergara Rivera of Santiago, Chile, who will join the Lady Vols in January ahead of the 2027 dual season.
Her résumé
Vergara Rivera is ranked No. 451 in WTA singles and No. 621 in doubles, with career highs of No. 340 and No. 469 earlier this year. She has three professional singles titles, including two W15 titles in Santiago in August 2025 and one in Luque, Paraguay, this summer. She has played for Chile in the Billie Jean King Cup every year since 2023 and has 10 combined wins, making her the 12th Chilean athlete to reach double digits. She reached a world junior ranking as high as No. 13 in 2024.
In June, she twice played current Lady Vol Leyla Britez Risso, winning their semifinal in Luque 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 and losing the quarterfinal rematch in Asunción 6-1, 6-1.
What the coaches said
"Her tenacity and passion fit right in with what being a Lady Vol is all about," Ojeda said, recalling watching her at the U.S. Open juniors. Assistant coach Martim Prata called her "an incredible competitor." Vergara Rivera is expected to represent Chile again in the 2027 World Cup of Tennis, continuing a Lady Vols tradition of players competing in it.
Sources: UTSports.com