Minnesota women’s tennis player Tijana Koprivica represented the Gophers in the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, competing in the doubles and mixed doubles competitions Monday through Wednesday, July 6-8.

Koprivica, who will be a senior at Minnesota in 2009-10, advanced to the second round in each of the draws. Koprivica is a Belgrade native and was named the Gophers’ Most Valuable Player this past season after leading the team in victories for the third straight year.

In doubles, she teamed with fellow Serbian Miljana Jocic, who plays collegiately at South Carolina. Koprivica and Jocic actually faced each other in doubles during the 2008-09 college season with Jocic earning an 8-5 win in the second round of the Northwestern Invitational. The pair won their opening match over Jaurel Harley and Jendal Richards of the U.S. Virgin Islands by walkover before a second round loss to seventh-seeded Martina Babakova and Katarina Kachlikova of Slovakia 6-2, 7-5.

Koprivica joined Serbian Aleksandr Grubin in the mixed doubles competition and teamed for a 6-4, 6-2 win over Graeme Kassautzki and Taylor Ormond of Canada in the opening round. Kassautzki played No. 2 singles at New Mexico and split sets in a singles match with Minnesota’s Tobias Wernet in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament before the match was suspended. Ormond competes for the women’s team at Baylor.

Koprivica and Grubin played Wednesday’s final match on centre court in the second round, but were upended by Mariya Malkhasyan and Artem Smirnov of Ukraine 6-2, 6-2.

Koprivica posted a 22-14 singles record and 23-12 doubles mark for the Gophers in 2008-09. She enters her senior year with 69 career singles wins, which ranks 20th in Minnesota history.