Fiona Crawley Explained

Fiona Crawley
Birth Date:7 February 2002[1]
Birth Place:San Antonio, Texas
Height:5 ft 6 in
College:North Carolina (2020–2024)
Plays:Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Careerprizemoney:$110,426
Singlestitles:3 ITF
Highestsinglesranking:No. 371 (February 5, 2024)
Currentsinglesranking:No. 379 (March 18, 2024)
Usopenresult:1R (2023)
Doublestitles:1 ITF
Highestdoublesranking:No. 970 (November 6, 2023)
Currentdoublesranking:No. 1002 (March 18, 2024)
Usopendoublesresult:1R (2023)
Updated:March 23, 2024

Fiona Maeve Crawley (born February 7, 2002) is an American tennis player. She played college tennis for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where she ranked as high as No. 1 nationally and won the NCAA team championship in 2023. She won the ITA National Fall Championships with Elizabeth Scotty in 2021 and the NCAA doubles title with Carson Tanguilig in 2023.

Crawley has a career-high Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking of No. 371 in singles and No. 970 in doubles. She has won two singles titles and one doubles title on the ITF Women's World Tennis Tour.

Early life and junior career

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Crawley took up tennis from age six to nine while living in Okinawa, Japan, where her father, Peter, was stationed as a member of the US Air Force.[2] She comes from an athletic family: her father played soccer at Michigan State, and she used to train with her older siblings, Liam and Solène, who went on to play tennis at Trinity and Colorado State respectively.[2] [3]

Crawley was the No. 1–ranked tennis player in Texas in her age group from the age of ten.[4] [5] She competed at national junior events while attending Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio.[6] In 2017, she won the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Girls' 16s National Clay Court Championships and the USTA 18s National Winter Championships,[6] [7] and finished runner-up in the Orange Bowl's under-16 event.[5] [8] In 2018, after winning the Texas Slam's under-18 event and the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 16s National Championships,[9] [10] she earned a wildcard into the US Open junior tournament, but lost in the first round.[11] [12] Crawley played at a handful of ITF World Tennis Tour events beginning in 2017.[11] She was considered the No. 1 recruit of the class of 2020.[13]

College career

Crawley began playing college tennis at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2020.[14] In her freshman year, she compiled a 30–1 singles record, helping North Carolina win the ACC Championships and earn the top seed at the 2021 NCAA Team Championships, where they reached the semifinals.[14]

As a sophomore in 2021–22, Crawley led Division I in singles wins with a 47–7 record, mostly playing in the No. 4 spot for North Carolina, and finished the season ranked No. 32 nationally. In doubles, she and teammate Elizabeth Scotty won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Carolina Regionals and the ITA Fall National Championships in San Diego.[15] At the 2022 NCAA Championships, where top-seeded North Carolina again got to the team semifinals, an unseeded Crawley made a run to the semifinals of the individual competition.[14] [16]

Crawley started her junior season winning all 17 matches at ITA tournaments in the fall of 2022, including the ITA National Fall Championships,[17] [18] attaining the in singles for the first time on November 16, 2022.[19] North Carolina went undefeated as a team in the 2023 regular season.[20] Crawley had only three losses in forty-nine singles matches as a junior, to Georgia's Lea Ma, and North Carolina State's Diana Shnaider (in the ACC final), and NC State's Amelia Rajecki (in the NCAA singles event's round of 16).[21] After playing mostly in the team's No. 1 spot, she swapped with No. 2 Reese Brantmeier for the 2023 NCAA Championships, where they avenged their only loss of the year—to rival NC State in the ACC Championship—to win their first national team title.[22] [23] In doubles, Crawley and sophomore Carson Tanguilig were runners-up at the ITA National Fall Championships.[24] At the end of the season they won the NCAA Doubles Championship, beating teammates Scotty and Brantmeier in the final.[25] [26] Crawley was named the ITA National Player of the Year and won the Honda Sports Award for the top college player.[27] [28]

Crawley went 18–5 in singles in her senior year, finishing her career ranked No. 15 nationally, and 20–4 in doubles, ranking No. 6 with Tanguilig.[14] She helped North Carolina win the ACC championship but lost in the round of 16 of the NCAA tournament to eventual champions Texas A&M.[14] [29]

Professional career

2023

Crawley was selected to the USTA Collegiate Summer Team in 2023.[30] She previously made her WTA Tour debut in April 2023 at the Charleston Open, where she received a wildcard into the main draw.[31] [32] In June 2023, playing in her first ITF competition since July 2021, she reached the final of the W25 event in Wichita as a qualifier.[11] Though she lost there to two seed Stacey Fung, the result led to her debut in the WTA rankings at No. 786 in the week of July 3, 2023.[33] [34] The next month, she split two back-to-back W15 doubles finals in Lakewood, California, partnering college players Mary Stoiana of Texas A&M and North Carolina teammate Brantmeier.[11]

In August 2023, Crawley made her Grand Slam debut at the US Open. As a wildcard, she progressed through the singles qualifying tournament by saving two match points in the first round (against Réka Luca Jani) and prevailing in third-set tiebreaks in two of her three qualifying wins.[35] [36] [37] NCAA champions Crawley and Tanguilig were also awarded a wildcard into the doubles event.[38] Crawley did not collect her in prize money because of NCAA restrictions on college athletes, something she considered unfair in light of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules.[39] [40] She won her first ITF singles title in October 2023 at the W25 event in Florence, South Carolina, beating former Duke player Chloe Beck in the final.[41] [42]

2024

Crawley was again selected to the USTA Collegiate Summer Team in 2024.[43]

ITF Circuit finals

Singles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)

Legend
W25/35 tournaments (2–1)
W15 tournaments (1-0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jun 2023ITF Wichita, Kansas, United StatesW25Hard Stacey Fung3–6, 2–6
Win1–1Oct 2023ITF Florence, United StatesW25Hard Chloe Beck7–5, 6–1
Win2–1Jan 2024ITF Arcadia, United StatesW35Hard Ashley Lahey4–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win3–1Jun 2024ITF San Diego, USW15Hard Sara Daavettila6–4, 1–6, 6–3

Doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)

Legend
W25/35 tournaments (2–1)
W15 tournaments (1–1)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentScore
Win1–0Jul 2023ITF Lakewood, USW15Hard Mary Stoiana Mary Lewis
Brandy Walker		7–5, 6–7(3), [10–5]
Loss1–1Jul 2023ITF Lakewood, USW15Hard Reese Brantmeier Savannah Broadus
Anita Sahdiieva		3–6, 3–6

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fiona Crawley. Just Women's Sports. April 4, 2023. June 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230608015802/https://justwomenssports.com/athlete/fiona-crawley/. dead.
  2. News: Crawley Ousts Top Seed to Reach Girls' 16S Final. Mitsch. Pat. December 9, 2017. United States Tennis Association. April 5, 2023.
  3. News: Fiona Crawley brings more winning ways to loaded UNC women's tennis team. Maddock. Eve. February 25, 2021. The Daily Tar Heel. April 7, 2023.
  4. News: Courting success a way of life for tennis prodigy. Koidin Jaffee. Michelle. August 2, 2012. mysanantonio.com. April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151210235042/http://www.mysanantonio.com:80/life/article/Courting-success-a-way-of-life-for-tennis-prodigy-3757329.php . December 10, 2015 . live.
  5. News: High school tennis prodigy excels in competition against the world's best. December 17, 2017. news4sanantonio.com. April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171225160040/http://news4sanantonio.com:80/sports/tennis/high-school-tennis-prodigy-excels-in-competition-against-the-worlds-best . December 25, 2017 . live.
  6. News: San Antonio's Crawley Wins Gold at Clay Courts. Barrett. Kathryn. August 1, 2017. United States Tennis Association. April 5, 2023.
  7. News: Alshon, Crawley Win USTA National Winter Championships. Milano. Sally. January 3, 2018. United States Tennis Association. April 6, 2023.
  8. News: S.A. teen runner-up at tennis junior championships. December 9, 2017. KENS5. April 5, 2023.
  9. News: Hilderbrand, Crawley Win at 2018 Texas Slam. June 16, 2018. United States Tennis Association. April 5, 2023.
  10. News: Osuigwe, Brooksby Win USTA Junior National Titles. Kapetanakis. Arthur. August 13, 2018. United States Tennis Association. April 5, 2023.
  11. News: Fiona Crawley Tennis Player Profile. International Tennis Federation. April 4, 2023.
  12. News: Q&A: Getting to know Alamo Heights' Fiona Crawley. Thomas. Terrence. September 18, 2018. mysanantonio.com. April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180919115230/https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high-school/article/Q-A-Getting-to-know-Alamo-Heights-Fiona-13239430.php . September 19, 2018 . live.
  13. Web site: Player Overview – Fiona Crawley. tennisrecruiting.net. August 30, 2020. April 6, 2023.
  14. Web site: Fiona Crawley. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221024231538/https://goheels.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/fiona-crawley/23554 . October 24, 2022 . live.
  15. News: Crawley and Scotty Win ITA Fall National Championship. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. 2023-11-06.
  16. News: UNC Doubles Pair of Scotty and Crawley Ends Year Ranked No. 1. Koh. Michael. December 10, 2021. Chapelboro. April 7, 2023.
  17. News: After extraordinary fall season, Crawley aims to lead UNC women's tennis to NCAA title. Peace. Gwen. November 15, 2022. The Daily Tar Heel. April 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116194355/https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2022/11/sports-unc-womens-tennis-fiona-crawley-profile-ita-fall-championship-singles-brian-kalbas-carson-tanguilig . January 16, 2023 . live.
  18. News: Top Stories of 2022: Fiona Crawley Sweeps the Fall. December 21, 2022. Intercollegiate Tennis Association. April 6, 2023.
  19. Web site: ITA / Rankings (Nov 16 2022). November 16, 2022. Intercollegiate Tennis Association. April 4, 2023.
  20. News: Crawley & Tanguilig Win 2023 NCAA Doubles Championship. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. May 30, 2023.
  21. Web site: Fiona Crawley. Intercollegiate Tennis Association. May 30, 2023.
  22. News: UNC women's tennis avenges only loss of season, beats rival NC State for national title. Pelletier. Justin. May 21, 2023. The News & Observer. May 30, 2023.
  23. News: Lineup changes prove vital in road to NCAA women's tennis title. Wills. Caroline. May 22, 2023. The Daily Tar Heel. May 30, 2023.
  24. News: UNC women's tennis' Crawley and Tanguilig earn second place in doubles at ITA National Fall Championships. Peace. Gwen. November 8, 2022. The Daily Tar Heel. June 7, 2023.
  25. News: 2023 NCAA Championships: After team win, D1 women's doubles final is all-UNC affair. Chiesa. Victoria. May 26, 2023. United States Tennis Association. May 30, 2023.
  26. News: UNC's Fiona Crawley and Carson Tanguilig Win NCAA Doubles Championship. Koh. Michael. May 27, 2023. Chapelboro. May 30, 2023.
  27. News: 2023 Division I Women's Tennis ITA National Awards. June 12, 2023. Intercollegiate Tennis Association. June 26, 2023.
  28. News: Crawley Named 2023 Honda Award Winner for Women's Tennis. June 14, 2023. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. June 26, 2023.
  29. Web site: UNC women's tennis NCAA tournament run ends after falling to Texas A&M. Wills. Caroline. 2024-05-12. The Daily Tar Heel. 2024-06-26.
  30. News: Brantmeier and Crawley Selected to 2023 USTA Collegiate Summer Team. 2023-06-08. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. 2023-11-06.
  31. News: Diana Shnaider won't play for NC State today against rival North Carolina, but there's a very good reason why. McGrogan. Ed. April 6, 2023. tennis.com. April 6, 2023.
  32. News: Photos: The players contesting their first WTA main draw in 2023. June 17, 2023. Women's Tennis Association. June 26, 2023.
  33. Web site: W25 Wichita 2023 Tennis Tournament. 2023-06-25. International Tennis Federation. 2023-07-02.
  34. Web site: Fiona Crawley – Rankings History. Women's Tennis Association. 2023-07-02.
  35. News: Fiona Crawley wins second straight deciding tiebreak in 2023 US Open qualifying. Kapetanakis. Arthur. 2023-08-25. US Open. 2023-08-26.
  36. News: US Open 2023's Grand Slam debuts: Ngounoue, Prozorova, Crawley. Macpherson. Alex. 2023-08-26. Women's Tennis Association. 2023-08-26.
  37. News: Meet the 2023 US Open women's qualifiers. Cioffi. Ron. 2023-08-26. US Open. 2023-10-17.
  38. News: NCAA champions Quinn, Crawley and Tanguilig awarded 2023 US Open wild cards. Chiesa. Victoria. June 6, 2023. US Open. June 26, 2023.
  39. News: College tennis champ Fiona Crawley explains decision to forfeit US Open prize money. 2023-09-06. ABC News. 2023-10-17.
  40. News: Fiona Crawley, UNC tennis players struggle with NCAA prize money rules. Wills. Caroline. 2023-09-27. The Daily Tar Heel. 2023-11-02.
  41. News: Crawley Wins First Professional Singles Title. 2023-10-16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. 2023-10-17.
  42. News: Chansky's Notebook: Fight Goes On. Chansky. Art. 2023-10-16. Chapelboro. 2023-10-17.
  43. Web site: Crawley Named To 2024 USTA Collegiate Summer Team. 2024-06-12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Athletics. 2024-06-26.

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