Iowa sophomore tennis player Sonja Molnar will begin play today in the International Tennis Association All-American event at the Riviera Tennis Club in Palisades, Calif.

The tournament begins qualifying play today and runs through Wednesday. Molnar is competing in the singles tournament, which consists of 64 players from around the country. After the qualifying round, 32 players will move on to the main draw on Thursday through Oct. 11.

“She’s one of only a few players that have ever made it to that event,” said former Iowa head coach Daryl Greenan. “She might even be the youngest.”

Molnar will be the first Hawkeye to qualify for the event since Meg Racette in 2006. Molnar was excited to get to the tournament and said it was the one she had been hoping to play in.

Iowa assistant coach Mira Radu will accompany Molnar during the trip as a replacement for Greenan, who recently accepted a coaching job at Mississippi State.

Greenan said Molnar should be ready for good competition, because everyone at the tournament is a nationally ranked contender. However, he said, she is definitely ready for the tournament.

“She has the potential to do very well,” he said. “She deserves to be in there.”

— by Patrick Rafferty