Kentucky women’s tennis player Julia Zhu kept the Wildcat name alive until the semifinals of the ITA Regional Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, which ran from Oct. 18-21.

The No. 6-seeded junior has grown throughout her three years with Kentucky, increasing her freshman-year win percentage by 7% during her second year to end the 2024-25 season at 67%, going 14-6 (5-5 SEC).

In August, Zhu was ranked No. 57 in singles play by the ITA.

Climbing in the ranks for the Wildcats, the junior also spent most of her sophomore year in the top 100, finishing her 2024-25 season at No. 92 in the country.

Zhu started her tournament in the main draw, defeating Rage of East Tennessee State convincingly 6-3, 6-1, followed by another win in the round of 16 against Vanderbilt’s Sophia Webster. Zhu took the match against Webster in both rounds with a 6-3 triumph.

In the quarterfinals, the hosting Volunteers couldn’t hold the Cats at bay, as Zhu defeated Tennessee’s No. 1 seed, Catherine Aulia, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

The junior ultimately fell in the next round to Vanderbilt’s Bridget Stammel.

Alongside Zhu, Kentucky captain Zoe Hammond carried her doubles No. 9 seed, with freshman Reese Sager, two rounds before falling in the third to Vanderbilt. Seeded second in singles, Hammond advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Vanderbilt’s Mia Yamakita.

The tournament highlighted Zhu’s increasing importance to the Kentucky roster, showing that she can be the athlete to carry the Cats to the end — even above higher-ranked players.

The Cats and Zhu will see action again on the road in San Diego, California, during the ITA Conference Masters and ITA Sectional Championships on Thursday, Nov. 6.