Red Wolves ruled the desert at the Women’s Tennis Association’s (WTA) Dubai destination.

Indiana University East online students swept the women’s singles and doubles championships at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in late February. Venus Williams won the singles title at the WTA Dubai event. Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova won the doubles championship. Williams, Kudryavtseva and Rodionova all are enrolled in baccalaureate online degree completion programs at IU East.

“I love the IU East sweep. We took it all in Dubai. Can’t wait until more members of the WTA join the Red Wolf team,” Williams said, referring to the IU East mascot. “Soon there will be a Red Wolf winning every week!”

Williams won 6-3, 6-0 against Alize Cornet in the singles championship match. Williams, who resides in Florida, now has won 45 career singles championships, including seven Grand Slam titles. She is enrolled in the Business Administration program at IU East.

Kudryavtseva and Rodionova won 6-2, 5-7, 10-8 against Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears in the doubles championship match for their second tournament win as a pair in 2014. Rodionova, who resides in Melbourne, Australia, is 21st in the WTA doubles world rankings (as of March 3) and is enrolled in the Business Administration program. Kudryavtseva, who resides in Moscow, Russia, is 22nd in the WTA doubles world rankings and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Indiana University East and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) agreed this past August that the university is the primary provider for baccalaureate online degree completion programs for WTA players. WTA players have been enrolled at IU East since the spring 2013 term. IU East online degree programs offer the high quality of an Indiana University degree to students throughout Indiana, nationally and internationally.

“Together with WTA, Indiana University East created this great opportunity for our education, and I am very grateful for it,” Kudryavtseva said. “I (didn’t) think I would ever be adventurous enough to join an online program. But with help of advisers from both organizations, it was easy, and now I am one of the students at Indiana University East and the Red Wolves family.

“It is very hard balancing the two occupations, but it gives a fantastic opportunity for personal growth. Managing my time wisely was never easy for me, but my classes have been so interesting that I found new organizational skills within. So far it is going great, and I really hope to be able to get my B.A. while still on the tour to have better job opportunities after tennis.”

IU East’s online programs offer 10 options for students who wish to complete their bachelor’s degree online. IU East currently offers bachelor’s degrees online in English, Technical and Professional Writing, Natural Science and Mathematics, a Mathematics Concentration, Communication Studies; Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology, General Studies and an RN to BSN Mobility Option. IU East also offers a Graduate Certificate in Composition Studies.

“I have been able to have the flexibility to study while still maintaining a successful career and planinng for my life after tennis at the same time,” Williams said. “Being a student and a professional athlete takes focus. I use all the lessons I have learned in sport and apply this same discipline and drive to my education.”

Founded in 1973, the WTA is the global leader in women’s professional sport with more than 2,500 players representing 92 nations.