University of Delaware Athletics
Abidullina & Askarova: A Pairing Fit For the Record Books
4/13/2023 5:52:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Adel-Byanu Abidullina took just one campus visit during her time in the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer. Completing it required overcoming seven flights canceled in two days amid a winter storm.
That journey, though, set the stage for a 2022-23 season in which Abidullina has teamed up with Eliza Askarova to shatter the Delaware single-season doubles win record, become the first Blue Hens to garner national doubles rankings, and help the team set the program's single-season win record.
Playing a few matches without Abidullina this season, Askarova became Delaware's single season doubles record holder with 32 victories. Twenty-nine of those came with her trusted teammate by her side.
As a team, the Hens are 23-0 in dual matches when it comes to claiming the doubles point. Something that has certainly played a pivotal role in the team's success.
Abidullina, a two-time Division II All-American in singles and doubles at Central Oklahoma, took her dominant four-year track record to Newark with an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, she joined forces with Askarova, a 2021-22 All-CAA Second Team Singles selection and 2020-21 team MVP.
The duo found its rhythm rapidly, beginning in the fall season that culminated with an ITA Fall National Championships doubles quarterfinals appearance after claiming the ITA Atlantic Regional Doubles Championship. Overall, the duo sits 29-2 and have captured wins over the fifth, ninth, 16th, and 50th ranked teams. The two losses came against second-ranked UNC in the quarterfinals and 12th-ranked Temple.
"Usually, when you have a new partner, it takes a couple matches to get used to her game to my game, kind of see what's working," Askarova said. "And I feel like our first match, we clicked right away. It was just easy flow and felt like that's how it's supposed to be. I wasn't nervous or tight at all."
Abidullina concurred, stressing the pair's quick connection.
"I think it's really important to have a good communication," she said of playing in doubles. "It's been clicking and been working and I'm really enjoying playing with [Askarova]."
Director of Tennis Pablo Montana saw the pairing's potential early on.
"In the fall, when we started playing them together in practices, I could already tell this was going to be a great combination," Montana said. "I had a feeling before they even stepped on the court together, they just complemented each other very well. Eliza is so solid from the baseline. Adel is so solid at the net. They also get along, which is also a big part of this. They have a strong chemistry."
The tandem's close ties will be on display Saturday when Delaware celebrates Senior Day in its noon match versus Towson at the Delaware Field House Outdoor Courts. The contest will conclude the regular season before the CAA tournament in Williamsburg, Va. commences April 20.
"I know we're not done yet," Abidullina said. "I'm excited for what we can achieve during the regular season as a team and also really excited to see how far we can go in the national tournament as doubles players."
Askarova also cherishes the chance to compete in the Hens' record-setting doubles with postseason play nearing.
"For me, it's just really enjoying every match because I know this is probably my last opportunity to play together [with Abidullina] ever," Askarova said. "I definitely want to give my best so that I have no regrets."
Certainly, Montana has no regrets matching Askarova and Abidullina.
"I've said it once, I'll say it again: When they step on the court, they are all business," Montana said. "They can smile and they're happy and they're goofy off the court, but when those two get on the court together, they are on a mission."
The mission is built on trust, Askarova and Abidullina say.
"Trust in your partner and support," Abidullina said when asked about what separates doubles teams. "No matter what happened. We're all gonna have a bad day, bad call, bad point, anything could happen, and I think having someone inside always supporting you, always having your back, no matter what's happening on the court or off the court, makes the difference."
All the same, though, the couple values transparency on the court as part of Montana's philosophy for the team, Askarova noted. She cited the coach's frequent reference to the adage, "Average players want to be left alone, good players want to be coached, and great players want to know the truth."
Two of the Blue Hens' great players, once their time raising each other's game is complete, have high ambitions for life after wearing the Blue & Gold competitively.
Abidullina is studying public policy with a focus on emergency management, with applications in disaster areas, security companies, and weather risk. Askarova, a senior health behavior science major and psychology and public health minor, intends to pursue an MBA in the healthcare management specialization.
That journey, though, set the stage for a 2022-23 season in which Abidullina has teamed up with Eliza Askarova to shatter the Delaware single-season doubles win record, become the first Blue Hens to garner national doubles rankings, and help the team set the program's single-season win record.
Playing a few matches without Abidullina this season, Askarova became Delaware's single season doubles record holder with 32 victories. Twenty-nine of those came with her trusted teammate by her side.
As a team, the Hens are 23-0 in dual matches when it comes to claiming the doubles point. Something that has certainly played a pivotal role in the team's success.
Abidullina, a two-time Division II All-American in singles and doubles at Central Oklahoma, took her dominant four-year track record to Newark with an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, she joined forces with Askarova, a 2021-22 All-CAA Second Team Singles selection and 2020-21 team MVP.
The duo found its rhythm rapidly, beginning in the fall season that culminated with an ITA Fall National Championships doubles quarterfinals appearance after claiming the ITA Atlantic Regional Doubles Championship. Overall, the duo sits 29-2 and have captured wins over the fifth, ninth, 16th, and 50th ranked teams. The two losses came against second-ranked UNC in the quarterfinals and 12th-ranked Temple.
"Usually, when you have a new partner, it takes a couple matches to get used to her game to my game, kind of see what's working," Askarova said. "And I feel like our first match, we clicked right away. It was just easy flow and felt like that's how it's supposed to be. I wasn't nervous or tight at all."
Abidullina concurred, stressing the pair's quick connection.
"I think it's really important to have a good communication," she said of playing in doubles. "It's been clicking and been working and I'm really enjoying playing with [Askarova]."
Director of Tennis Pablo Montana saw the pairing's potential early on.
"In the fall, when we started playing them together in practices, I could already tell this was going to be a great combination," Montana said. "I had a feeling before they even stepped on the court together, they just complemented each other very well. Eliza is so solid from the baseline. Adel is so solid at the net. They also get along, which is also a big part of this. They have a strong chemistry."
The tandem's close ties will be on display Saturday when Delaware celebrates Senior Day in its noon match versus Towson at the Delaware Field House Outdoor Courts. The contest will conclude the regular season before the CAA tournament in Williamsburg, Va. commences April 20.
"I know we're not done yet," Abidullina said. "I'm excited for what we can achieve during the regular season as a team and also really excited to see how far we can go in the national tournament as doubles players."
Askarova also cherishes the chance to compete in the Hens' record-setting doubles with postseason play nearing.
"For me, it's just really enjoying every match because I know this is probably my last opportunity to play together [with Abidullina] ever," Askarova said. "I definitely want to give my best so that I have no regrets."
Certainly, Montana has no regrets matching Askarova and Abidullina.
"I've said it once, I'll say it again: When they step on the court, they are all business," Montana said. "They can smile and they're happy and they're goofy off the court, but when those two get on the court together, they are on a mission."
The mission is built on trust, Askarova and Abidullina say.
"Trust in your partner and support," Abidullina said when asked about what separates doubles teams. "No matter what happened. We're all gonna have a bad day, bad call, bad point, anything could happen, and I think having someone inside always supporting you, always having your back, no matter what's happening on the court or off the court, makes the difference."
All the same, though, the couple values transparency on the court as part of Montana's philosophy for the team, Askarova noted. She cited the coach's frequent reference to the adage, "Average players want to be left alone, good players want to be coached, and great players want to know the truth."
Two of the Blue Hens' great players, once their time raising each other's game is complete, have high ambitions for life after wearing the Blue & Gold competitively.
Abidullina is studying public policy with a focus on emergency management, with applications in disaster areas, security companies, and weather risk. Askarova, a senior health behavior science major and psychology and public health minor, intends to pursue an MBA in the healthcare management specialization.
Players Mentioned
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