TUCSON, Ariz. – Head women's tennis coach Ryan Stotland has signed graduate transfer Jelena Lukic from the University of Portland. Lukic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia will be joining the Wildcats in the Spring of 2021 and will be eligible to play immediately.
 
At the University of Portland, Lukic was a two-time All-WCC honoree and had an overall record of 46-37 in singles and 33-46 in doubles for the Pilots. She also has a career high WTA ranking of 1,059.
 
"I chose the University of Arizona because it is an amazing program", Lukic said. "The University of Arizona carries a long legacy of high standards in both academics and athletics. It is an honor to be part of the program."
 
Throughout her junior career, Lukic established herself as one of the top players in both Serbia and Europe. She won the U-18 European Championships and won the Serbian National Championships in every age category. She also reached the semi-finals of a futures event on the WTA circuit in 2016. Lukic lists her junior coach, David Savic as her biggest influence on her career. "I worked with him the longest. He has seen me at my best and at my worst, and have built a strong relationship over the years," Lukic said of Savic.
 
Lukic is the daughter of Zivko and Jasmnia Lukic, and has one brother, Aleksa. She speaks seven languages and is hoping to add Spanish to the list in the near future. In her spare time, Lukic loves to go for hikes or spend time on the beach.
 
"We are very excited Jelena will be joining our Wildcat Family," Stotland said. "She has already done tremendous things in college and the pro level. She played number one her whole career at Portland and did great things. Jelena is very talented and smart so she will fit right in. The fact she can speak seven languages will add a lot of diversity to the team. We are looking forward to helping Jelena further grow at Arizona and we know she is ready to Bear Down."
 
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