Former WTA® World No. 24 in Singles and No. 35 in Doubles, Christina McHale, Joins the Challenge Team

ATLANTA, GA – July 18, 2025 – INTENNSE™ Tennis returns for Week 4, with Georgia athletes and coaches in the spotlight.

This Saturday at 2 PM, it will be a compelling contest of mentor versus protégé as former University of Georgia Head Coach Manny Diaz leads the Challenge Team against his former player, Trent Bryde.

On Sunday, two former Georgia Tech teammates will take the court as opponents. Kate Sharabura (Tampa) and her teammates take on Alejandra Cruz (Jacksonville), showcasing the depth of talent fostered within the state’s collegiate programs.

Christina McHale is set to become the highest-ranked player to compete in the INTENNSE Challenge Series to date. A former WTA® World No. 24 in singles and No. 35 in doubles, McHale brings a wealth of experience to the competition.
 

Week Four Storylines:

Challenge Team vs Atlanta, Sat. @ 2 PM ET: Atlanta is on a roll with Marcelo leading his team to back-to-back weeks of strong performances, but their season opened with an upset loss against the Challenge team. Will they underestimate them once again, or come out looking to make a statement?  Manny Diaz, one of the greatest college tennis coaches in history, will be on the other side, trying to stop his momentum and make headlines for the Challenge team once again.

Team Tampa vs. Team Jacksonville, Sat. @ 7 PM ET: Tampa is now 0 and 2 against Jacksonville as they haven’t been able to solve the Sam Nicholson problem or the terrorizing matchups that Jacksonville presents in doubles. Tampa is playing better each week, though. Will Saturday night be the primetime moment they need to get their first victory of the season? You'll want your Portuguese-to-English dictionary close by, since Jacksonville Coach Caio Ravagnan and Atlanta’s Marcelo Ferreira speak fluent Portuguese.

Team Atlanta vs Team Jacksonville, Sun. @ 2 PM ET: They saw two teams put on an Emmy-worthy performance on June 28th, but Jacksonville left with a sour taste after losing on the very last point. Can Jacksonville overcome that brutal loss and come out on top? Both teams have doubles stars that take over whenever they step on the court. Will Kevin King reign once again, or will Martin Gutierrez show the world that he is actually the best doubles player in the league? 

League Standings:
 

Team ATL - 
No changes in the roster from last week. The team picked off Tampa 217-187 in Week 3.

Week Four Rosters
Head Coach: Marcelo Ferreira
Currently serving as the High-Performance Tennis Manager at Windy Hill, Ferreira has spent over 15 years shaping champions at both the collegiate and professional levels. He has coached at prestigious programs such as Pepperdine University, Texas Tech University, and Georgia College & State University, earning recognition as a two-time ITA Assistant Coach of the Year. His players have excelled under his guidance, achieving All-America honors, winning NCAA® championships, and transitioning to successful professional careers.

Trent Bryde
A former University of Georgia tennis standout, he was a three-time ITA All-American and a dominant player for the Bulldogs. He reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 625 in singles and was a top-10 junior player, competing in ATP Challenger™ and Grand Slam® events.

Raul Garcia
Originally from Bolivia, Garcia has been a standout collegiate tennis player known for his consistency and dominance in singles. A former No. 1 junior in Bolivia, Raul brought international experience into college, including a career-high ATP® singles ranking of No. 1248 and multiple ITF Junior titles. At the collegiate level, he consistently competed at the top of the lineup, closing his senior year (2023–24) with a 15-4 singles record and a nine-match win streak. Over his career, he earned ASUN® All-Freshman Team, Second Team All-Conference, and ASUN® Player of the Week honors. Raul also excelled in doubles, most notably partnering with Harvey Conway across multiple seasons with strong results.

Kevin King
Grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia, and started playing tennis at just four years old. He went on to play collegiate tennis at Georgia Tech, earning a degree in mechanical engineering before turning pro. On the ATP Tour®, he reached career-high rankings of No. 164 in singles and No. 114 in doubles.

Tanya Sasnouskaya
One of the top-ranked NCAA® Division I tennis players, consistently competing at the highest level in both singles and doubles. She earned ITA All-America honors, reached national championship finals, and held a No. 1 national ranking in doubles while representing both Old Dominion University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Ava Hrastar
One of college tennis's top doubles talents, recently reaching the NCAA® Doubles Semifinals (2024-25) and earning ITA All-America honors for the second time. Now at Auburn, she made history with partner DJ Bennett as just the second doubles team from the school to reach the NCAA® semifinals. Ava previously competed for Georgia Tech and Ole Miss, where she compiled over 70 career singles and doubles wins and reached a career-high ITA doubles ranking of No. 6. A three-time NCAA® Doubles Championship selection, she was also named Third Team All-ACC and earned multiple academic honors, including ITA Scholar-Athlete and ACC All-Academic Team recognition.

Michaela Gordon
Born in Chicago and raised in the Bay Area, Gordon made her mark as Stanford University's No. 1 singles and doubles player. She contributed to two NCAA® championship-winning teams and earned numerous accolades, including Pac-12® Singles & Doubles Player of the Year, National Rookie of the Year, and multiple ITA All-America honors. Now, she brings her impressive collegiate and professional experience to Team Atlanta.

Team Tampa
Trent Mallory returns this week and is joined by Victoria Flores, who will be making her INTENNSE debut. The squad that has yet to register a Dual victory, losing to Atlanta (217-187) and Jacksonville (233-209) last weekend, but the Tampa Women still have a perfect record in singles, yet to be defeated this season.

Week 4 Rosters
Head Coach Yelena Labat
Started playing tennis at age 4 and quickly developed a strong passion for the sport thanks to her father. After competing at a high level in France as one of the nation's top U18 players, she moved to the United States to play collegiate tennis at Columbus State University (NCAA® Division II), where she spent four years on the women's team.
During her collegiate career, her team became Southeast Regional Champions every year from 2021 to 2024 and qualified for the NCAA® Nationals all four years, reaching the semifinals twice. She was also honored as an ITA All-America doubles player. Today, she remains connected to the sport as a dedicated tennis coach at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy.

Trey Mallory
Started playing tennis at age 10 and quickly rose to become Bermuda's top junior player. He trained at LAT and SVB Tennis Academies in Florida before earning an NCAA® Division I scholarship to UNC Wilmington, where he helped secure four CAA® Conference Championships. In 2024, he earned his first ATP® point in Santo Domingo and has proudly represented Bermuda in Davis Cup™ since age 16. Now, he's continuing to chase new heights
on the pro circuit while representing his roots on the global stage.

Sam Frizelle
A standout from Lutz, Florida, Sam emerged as a key player for the Florida Southern Mocs. In the 2025 season, he boasts an impressive 11-7 singles record at the No. 1 court. Frizelle's consistent excellence earned him the Sunshine State Conference® Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honor on April 14, 2025.

Noori Adam
Earned All-MEAC honors at Florida A&M, and began his tennis journey at the New Mexico Military Institute. Originally from Sudan, Adam achieved his first ATP® points at just 16 years old, showcasing his early potential.

Kate Sharabura
A standout collegiate tennis player known for her dominance in doubles and consistency in singles for Georgia Tech. A three-time NCAA® Doubles Championship qualifier, she earned ITA All-America honors in 2022 and was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in doubles. She has received multiple All-ACC honors, including Second Team recognition in 2024 and Third Team in 2022. In the 2024 season, Sharabura led her team in singles wins (22-8) and was instrumental in doubles with partner Carol Lee, reaching a season-high ITA doubles ranking of No. 11.
Sharabura is equally accomplished academically, being named to the All-ACC Academic Team and CSC Academic All-District® each year from 2022 to 2025, along with multiple ITA Scholar-Athlete honors.
 

Seone Mendez
An Australian standout with Argentine roots, she has made her mark on the professional tennis circuit. Reaching career-high WTA rankings of No. 198 in singles and No. 304 in doubles, Mendez has captured 13 ITF singles titles and 5 ITF doubles titles, showcasing her versatility and consistency across both disciplines. Known for her competitive spirit and international flair,

Victoria Flores
A standout Georgia Tech tennis alumna who left a lasting legacy both on and off the court. A 2021 ITA All-American in singles and doubles, Victoria earned at-large bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships and was named to the All-ACC Second Team that same year. Known not only for her performance but also for her character, she received the prestigious ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award and the ITA Southeast Regional Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award.

Her 2020 campaign was just as strong, earning ITA All-American honors in doubles, being named the ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch, and capturing ACC Player of the Week on January 28.

Off the court, Victoria is a true adventurer. She’s traveled to 18 countries, knows how to drive a stick shift, and loves to surf, bringing the same fearless energy to life that she showed on the tennis court.

Team Jacksonville
Head Coach Claudio Pistolesi is taking a step back for the week and has left the reins to his Assistant Coach Caio Ravagnani. The remainder of the roster stays the same for the team that beat Tampa 233-209 last week.

Head Coach Caio Ravagnani 
An experienced tennis coach with years dedicated to developing and implementing training programs for athletes across all ages and skill levels. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in English, he has excelled as both a student-athlete and coach, contributing significantly to collegiate programs in Texas. Caio’s expertise spans player development, recruiting, fitness planning, tournament coordination, and facility management. Serving as a Graduate Assistant at Saint Mary’s University and Our Lady of the Lake University, he has helped create positive environments and strategies that empower student-athletes to reach their highest potential.

His leadership experience includes directing ITA and open entry prize-money tournaments, mentoring scholarship recipients, and facilitating logistics for travel and events. Caio holds a Master’s in International Relations from Saint Mary's University, alongside dual Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and Managerial Economics. Recognized for his outstanding leadership and academic achievements, he has been inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and served as captain of the men’s tennis team. Caio’s strong communication skills and passion for the sport make him a valuable asset to any tennis program

Week 4 Rosters

Sam Nicholson
A two-time First Team All-Big South® singles selection, Sam Nicholson has been a consistent presence at the top of his team's lineup since his freshman year. In 2023-24, he tallied 14 singles wins—11 at the No. 2 position—and went undefeated in conference doubles play with partner Freddy Murray, earning Second Team All-Conference honors in doubles. As a freshman, Nicholson led the team in singles wins (14), competing across all top three lines and recording four conference victories.

Maxwell Benson
A two-time Big South® Champion and the 2021 Player of the Year from Presbyterian College. On the pro circuit, he's captured two ITF World Tennis Tour M25 doubles titles, showcasing his all-around abilities and competitive edge. Off the court, Max enjoys staying active, especially on the basketball court.

Martin Gutierrez
Born in Colombia, Martín later moved to Jacksonville, Florida, with his family, where he grew up and learned to play tennis. He built a stellar collegiate career at Barry University, winning four NCAA® championship titles and earning three ITA All-America honors. Martín has also created a thriving community of 20,000+ tennis enthusiasts through his Instagram account @TheForehandGuy, with the mission of helping players develop confident forehands. A fierce competitor (which becomes immediately apparent when you watch him play!), Martín is passionate about spending time with friends, working out, and grilling.

Annabelle Thomas
Originally from the UK, Annabelle attended Millfield School on a multi-sport scholarship and climbed to No. 18 in the U18 British tennis rankings by 2020. She went on to play NCAA® Division I tennis at the University of North Florida, where she won two ASUN® titles, earned Freshman of the Year honors, and helped clinch the program's first-ever NCAA® Tournament win. 

Now at Clemson University, she serves as co-captain of the women's tennis team while pursuing a master's in applied psychology. Her research explores barriers to mindfulness in sport, and she's certified as both a Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE®) instructor and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach.
 

Alejandra Cruz
A two-time ACC® Co-Freshman of the Week and ITA Scholar-Athlete at Georgia Tech. She posted back-to-back double-digit singles win seasons, including victories over Top 25 opponents and multiple match-clinchers in high-stakes ACC® and NCAA® tournament play. In doubles, she broke into the national rankings with two different partners, highlighted by a commanding win over UNC's No. 3-ranked team

Sofia Johnson:
Sofia is a British-Hungarian player who was born and raised in England and started playing tennis at age 6. She’s graduating from Old Dominion University, where she reached a college career-high singles ranking of #6 in the nation.

Challenge Exhibition Match: 
Saturday at 2 PM ET vs. Team Atlanta 
Team Atlanta will get the chance to avenge their team's 212-186 loss to a Week 1’s Challenge Team. 
Last weekend, Jacksonville took down the Challenge Team 217-169.

Week 4 - Challenge Team:

Coach: Manny Diaz
A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, served as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs men’s tennis program from the 1988–89 season through the end of the 2023–24 campaign, retiring in June of 2024. 
A two-time All-American during his playing career at UGA (1972–75) under legendary coach Dan Magill, Diaz transitioned to assistant and associate head coach roles from 1982–88 before ascending to the top job. Over his 36 seasons as head coach, Diaz compiled 781 career wins—making him the all-time winningest coach in SEC history and placing him sixth in NCAA men’s tennis history. 
Under Diaz’s guidance, Georgia became a fixture on the national stage: his teams captured four NCAA team championships (1999, 2001, 2007, and 2008) and two ITA national indoor titles, along with an astounding 29 SEC Championships (combined regular-season and tournament).

His players earned 97 All-America honors across 40 athletes, while Georgia made 11 appearances in the NCAA finals and 18 in the semifinals. Each four-year letterman under Diaz secured at least one SEC championship ring.

During his celebrated career, Diaz received SEC Coach of the Year honors seven times and ITA National Coach of the Year three times, and he was inducted into multiple halls of fame—including Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Puerto Rican Tennis Hall of Fame, and the USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024
 

Christina McHale
An American former professional tennis player who rose to prominence on the WTA Tour after turning pro in April 2010. Raised partly in Hong Kong between ages 3 and 8, she began playing tennis on local courts and later moved back to New Jersey, where she was homeschooled from age 15 while training at USTA Development Centers including Boca Raton and Carson.

Fluent in English, Spanish and conversational Mandarin, McHale’s multicultural upbringing shaped her global comfort on tour and contributed to her signature attributes: powerful baseline strokes, quick court coverage, and strong forehands noted by The New York Times for her “booming” groundstrokes.
Over a 12‑year career, McHale achieved a career‑high singles ranking of world No. 24 (August 20, 2012) and reached no. 35 in doubles (January 9, 2017)  . She won her first and only WTA singles title at the 2016 Japan Women’s Open, while also claiming two WTA doubles titles (Hobart and Tianjin in 2016). She reached the third round at all four Grand Slam events and represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics as well as multiple Fed Cup ties 
 

Artemis Aslanisvili
Joined Clemson University as a standout freshman in August 2024 after signing in November 2023—part of Clemson’s nationally ranked No. 9 recruiting class. Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece, she entered college as the top‑ranked junior player in her country, a distinction Coach Boomer Saia hailed as evidence of her huge potential and international pedigree. Artemis chose Clemson for its blend of rigorous academics, first-rate athletic facilities, and a supportive team culture she describes as making her feel “at home” .

With both international experience and early collegiate confidence, Artemis Aslanisvili appears poised to be a cornerstone of the Tigers’ rise under Coach Saia.

Amelie Smejkalova
Known as “Ami,” joined Clemson Women’s Tennis as part of the Fall 2024 recruiting class—Clemson’s highest‑ranked incoming class since 2012—after signing in November 2023. She arrives from Zlín, Czech Republic, where she trained at Orbis Středni Skola and stood out as the No. 30–ranked junior globally—the most highly ranked junior recruit Clemson has secured in over a decade. Upon her arrival, Ami was immediately recognized by the ITA: she earned preseason ITA newcomer ranking of No. 20 and was listed among national preseason picks alongside teammate Ria Bhakta.

Since debuting for the Tigers, Ami has made an impact both in singles and in doubles. She paired with Sophia Hatton to notch wins at early-season ITA Regional Championships and claimed key singles victories—most notably a comeback over Duke’s Katie Codd from No. 49. In ACC play, her doubles pairing with Gaia Parravicini earned wins against top-50 ranked teams, and she's competed strongly in singles against high-ranked opponents during conference matches. With her combination of international junior success, adaptability in dual match formats, and early confidence on the fall and spring stages, Šmejkalová is already shaping up as a foundational contributor to Clemson’s future success under Coach Boomer Saia.

Danijal Muminovic 
Played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina National team in juniors and seniors – going on to play tennis for Georgia State when they won the Sun Belt Championship, individually earning All-Sun Belt Singles Second-Team honors twice. Transferred to UTSA. Multiple time American Athletic Conference Player of the Week.  3 time ITA Scholar Athlete. Member of UTSA President’s Student Advisory Council (PSAC) from Jan. 2024-May 2025. UTSA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC): 2022-25 – Secretary: 2024-25
 

London Vasilescu 
A rising junior tennis standout from Atlanta, Georgia, entering his senior year of high school. Known for his elite mindset, powerful serve, and aggressive forehand, London is making his second appearance on the prestigious Challenge Team this season. He played a key role in the squad’s season-opening upset over Atlanta as a member of the very first Challenge Team. A proud Atlantan, London has been immersed in the sport since a young age, and one of his most cherished tennis memories is the opening ceremony of the Little Mo Internationals at age 8, where he recalls feeling like he had walked into the Olympics.

Off the court, London enjoys working out, relaxing by the pool, and building intricate LEGO sets. He’s a diehard Edmonton Oilers fan, a huge fan of the TV series Ballers, and loves traveling to Miami. His dream doubles match? Teaming up with his brother Lucas to take on legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. London is supported by his parents, Angelo and Elena, his brother Lucas, and their family dog, Jagger the Weimaraner. With a combination of athleticism, focus, and family support, London continues to make his mark on the junior tennis scene.
 

Richard Biagiotti 
A sophomore on the Georgia Tech men’s tennis team, hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, and majors in Business Administration. Standing 6′4″ and weighing 190 lb, he has established himself as a versatile competitor in both singles and doubles. In the 2024‑25 season, Richard posted a 13‑16 overall record, including a 9‑9 mark in dual matches (1‑0 at No. 4, 3‑6 at No. 5, and 5‑3 at No. 6), and hit a solid stride in doubles (7‑8 overall, 4‑1 in duals at No. 3 alongside Robert Bauer or Christophe Clement).

His freshman year was even more impressive: he debuted ranked No. 85 in singles and finished with a 19‑13 record; highlights included dual‑match wins over two ranked opponents and a clutch victory over No. 50 Miami’s Adrien Burdet. Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Biagiotti captured two national titles in Denmark, including a doubles championship, and earned his first ATP Tour ranking after defeating a top‑seeded, world‑ranked‑661 player in an Italian ITF event. He made an immediate impact in collegiate competition, securing both singles and doubles victories in key matches: for example, a straight‑sets singles win at the 2024 ITA All‑Americans over TCU’s Filip Apltauer, and delivering decisive performances in doubles lineups—like the 6‑2 win with Robert Bauer earlier this season. With his combination of international experience, strong baseline game, and academic discipline, Biagiotti is poised to be a driving force for Georgia Tech’s program in the seasons ahead.