Asuka Kawai
Women's Tennis
Sophomore | Palatine, IL
Psychology

For the second straight week, Fighting Illini sophomore Asuka Kawai was named the Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week. Kawai is the first Illinois women's tennis athlete to earn the honor in back-to-back weeks.

After a strong performance at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic last month, Kawai continued her stellar play at No. 13 Northwestern last Friday, as the Palatine, Illinois, native defeated No. 30 Clarissa Hand, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, to mark her third straight singles victory over a top-40 ITA ranked opponent. Paired with fellow-sophomore Mia Rabinowitz, Kawai also added a doubles victory, as the two took down NU's Pozo/Doshi, 6-2.