Austin Tennis Academy Super Champ

It was an easy view to look back to see my results and performance as turbulence; it was a "one win, one loss" pattern. My SCMZ tournament at Austin Tennis Academy was played in Austin, Texas from September 1-4, 2018. My dad, my brother, and I left for Austin on Friday evening. We got to our motel late that night around 10:00 p.m. Like always, there were never enough time to prepare for anything; we were rushing with putting our bags away because we all just wanted to lay down and go to sleep. We were exhausted--my brother and I had school and then tennis, and my dad worked all day! It was a long day. We finally went to sleep at around 10:45 p.m. 

my brother Emo & I

We woke up early so I can do my dynamic warm-up and some stretches before heading off to the site. We found a tennis court and park nearby so I went onto the courts to warm-up with my brother. My brother was enthusiastic to lend some help this morning. We rallied first and then we started hitting more aggressively. My brother helped me worked on all the shots and I got a good warm-up before it was time to head off the practice courts to the tournament site for my first match. I felt ready to begin my match.

My first opponent was Brianna Wardlay. She hit very flat and aggressive shots, and the bounce also stayed low because of the flat ball path. The groundstroke shots Brianna hit came at me very fast so I had to time it just right so I can get a clean hit. The ball sped up even faster when it hit the ground because of the skidding nature of the flat ball. I was often late to return the ball in the first couple games we played. It did take me some time to get used to the speed of her shots, and eventually, I was able to neutralize, attack and put pressure. Fortunate for me, she did make a lot of unforced errors. I kept consistent most of the time, from the baseline, hitting back and forth until one of us missed. I won 6-2, 6-0.

I was happy for my win, but the temperature got hotter and hotter as the full sun came out. While I waited for my next match, I watched other players played their matches. It a funny thing that you could see a "bigger" picture from the sidelines. It was so intense with all the matches! I felt like I could feel their emotion, especially on important points! 

Kayla Shefke warming up her overheads

My second opponent was the #2 seed, Kayla Shefke. She had a lot of topspin and pace on her groundstrokes which forced me to hit my shots at an uncomfortable height. Because hitting so many shots out of my comfort zones, I made way too many unforced errors. In turn, I chose very risky shots and targets that placed very close to the lines. They were not as effective countering plays as I thought they would be. I lost 2-6,1-6. And that was it for me--one win, one loss. I was done with singles for the day. I got a feed-in to the consolation draw, but that would be played on Sunday. I had one doubles match to play later this same evening, and I was looking forward to this. 

My partner Kori Montoya and I were scheduled to play against Laila Nguyen and Elizabeth Shu. Our team had only one goal to start our match--to stay consistent first. We stayed consistent, but we were a little more aggressive and active at the net. As we felt a little more comfortable with our game, we were playing to win! We move our opponents around the court, put constant pressure, and we were able to put away our volleys whenever we could. We ended up winning 8-4! ​The day was complete. We went back to our room trying to get as much rest and recovery as possible to be ready for the next day.

Kori & I won our doubles match

I played my third opponent Keira Mason on Sunday morning, and I won 6-3, 6-0. As always, the scores and the actual match played were two different stories. I had played her before at other tournament. So, I kind of remember her game. But, first I stayed consistent, hit deep shots and waited for her to make an error or a short ball. Once I found my rhythm, I was attacking a bit a more, and moving to the net on short balls. I played my net game when it was called for, and high-percentage shot selections from the baseline. That was the story line, at least it was in my head how I felt I played.

I was getting ready for my second match of the day by staying active. I walked and jogged around the tennis courts watching and observing the different players. I was nervous for my next match, but also confident at the same time. It is hard to explain my emotions. It was like an excitement that I would get to play tennis, but the fear of loss and disappointment were also drowning my thoughts. But I had to keep on going. 

Kori & I...all smiles as always

Remember Nadia Khera? That was my quarterfinals consolation match opponent! I played her on several occasions. Many of our matches were very closely contested. Thinking about past matches with Nadia, I chose to play very steady at the beginning, trying to stay consistent. We stayed pretty even throughout the first set and I didn't feel at all nervous. That was a good thing but also a bad thing for me. When I'm nervous I tend to hit with more control without losing patience because I make sure I don't miss. In this case, I couldn't feel any urgency to help me think to stick to my patterns.

But it was then at 4-5 when I started getting a little more nervous. I told myself not to let go of the set, but my subconscious thought differently. I was serving to stay in the set, but my thought was convincing me to start the second set instead of fighting through this first one. Had I started a little more aggressive, it would boost me a little more of a confident mindset to the point where I was controlling more points in the rallies. 

So I lost the first set, no big surprises there. But, then I started off the second set with this amazing spirit. My focus was high, as was my motivation. I was ready to fight for the second set to level up the match. I was ready to fight for my spot in this tournament. 

one up, one back... ;)

We were at 2-2 when the rain came pouring down on the courts. We all fled to the main building. There, they told us to immediately go to ATA, Austin Tennis Academy, to continue our matches. I don't remember what I was thinking on the ride there. Again, it was a turbulence of feelings, I don't know if I was feeling nervous or not. But I knew immediately I was going to win this set as soon as I hit the first ball. So much confident was in me, and I did! I won the second set.

We started playing the 10-point tiebreaker when the thoughts of losing and going home hit me. I didn't want to disappoint myself so I got nervous. But what I should had done was to be very aggressive and consistent, focus on the match rather than my negative emotions and the results. I let my emotion got the best of me. I started taking WAY too many risky shots hoping they would land in. But I hung in there.

We got to 6-6, part of me just wanted to the match to end, but part of me wanting to stay longer and to win. And that was when I started over-hitting, and opting for low-percentage game plays, hoping for high-risk, high reward mindset would see me through. Well, not a lot of those low-percentage shots landed in. I KNOW that none of me wanted to lose; none of me wanted to hit the ball out. I was tumbling out of control in my mind with these emotions. Sadly, I did, and I lost the next four straight points, ending the match with 4-6, 6-4, 6-10.

things are getting out of focus!

When I was walking back to report the score to the tournament desk, I was thinking about my tennis future. I imagined people telling their friends and families, "Oh my god! You should see this amazing player, Karina Zaharieva! You have no idea what she's been through to get here to the finals of the US Open!" Just the thought of that made me feel so happy. The idea of me, Karina Zaharieva, as a well-known athlete to everyone; to be a role model tennis athlete, a motivator to other junior players, and as an inspiration for others athletes coming after me to be good people showing love, passion, and dedication. The thought of all of this fuel my fire to reach to the top of my ability and give the best of my efforts. I was motivated.*

I was crying, and my eyes were full of tears, while writing this last paragraph with the thought of me being the person that motivates other little girls and little boys to grow up to become great people and tennis players. There will always be turbulence in tennis and in life, the ups and downs are hard to ignore and avoid, but being a kind and positive person is what make a good tennis athlete becomes a great tennis athlete. That is my goal!

Keeping my head up high...
Karina Zaharieva

*p.s. Of course I want to win...losing hurts! :-) ​