BCS Super Champ Major Zone

My mom, my brother, and my coach, headed down to College Station on Friday night. Like most of my other tournaments, Saturday was when official plays began. This tournament was like a year-end tournament for Super Champs. Anyways, we unpacked everything and went to have dinner with some of our friends. We ate Italian food at a restaurant next to the hotel, and it was absolutely delicious! We then went back to the hotel, which was walking distance, and got a good nights sleep.

checking in for our matches

I came into my first match feeling very confident in my shots, and so was my first opponent Kayla Surpless. Throughout the match I felt I was was able to be a bit more aggressive and confidence with many of my shots. I made it a personal goal to go to the net as much as I can, but sometimes I would get there late and lost points. However, I stayed consistent in pressure points to make sure I didn't risk it too much, too early, and miss. Of course, I did miss, which was the nature of most of my matches. I would find ways to recover lost points, which I forced Kayla to make a few errors herself.

As the match went on, Kayla became more and more consistent during our rallies; but, so did I. I guessed we found our groves, we were warmed up. When I broke Kayla service game during 3-3 in the second set, I got even more consistent to make sure I wasn't falling behind to let her back into the match. I ended up winning the match, 6-1; 6-3. It was a relief because so much mental focus and concentration on my part.

It rained earlier in the morning, so my first match started about 2 hours later, so my second match was pushed back even later. Since I had about two hours until my scheduled time, I had enough time to relax and recover and kind of get myself together through active recovery. 

with Kayla...starting our match.

The first set with my second opponent, Regina Herrera, was straight forward because I came into the match with an aggressive playing mindset. I felt good and I was upbeat and ready to fight. I was hitting through my shots, which forced a lot of errors on her. I won the first set decidedly, 6-1. But the match was not over, it was only getting started!

Regina was not going to give in as she began to up her game. She hit a bit harder and also gave herself plenty of margin for errors on her groundstrokes. I myself was fighting  her shots the entire second set and I knew I wasn't controlling points anymore, she was! I managed to forced a 6-6, so we went to a second set tiebreaker. During the end of the second set nearing the tiebreaker, my right hand started to burn a little. I looked at it and I saw that it was read and I realized it was a blister. I didn't think much of it so I kept playing. We got to a point where it was 6-3 me. Match point. I hit a forehand and the sting from the blister made me miss a crucial shot...oh the blister on my right hand burned so much now!

I looked and checked at the blister, and my blister ripped. Boy, it hurt! It was a big blister and it hurt! (Did I mentioned this blister on my hand burned and sting?) I kept going, though. I lost all my match points and we got to 11-11 in the tiebreaker. I couldn't stand the blister anymore so I called for a medical time-out. I got the blister rapped but that didn't really stop it from hurting. But it helped! I ended up losing the tiebreaker. Now, we had to play a third set tiebreaker. I had some hopefulness left in me and that is what pushed me to keep playing. It got very close in the tiebreaker, my hand burning at every stroke. It was 8-8 when I sucked it up and became very consistent. When she hit the net on the last point was an unbelievably relieved feeling--no more pain from the blister. I won 6-1, 6-7 (12-14), 10-8.

I felt relieved actually that I made it through the match. I was really worried about tomorrow though. I told myself it will be fine and I can get through it. (All the pain comes from the mind.)

with Mya...Congrats Mya!

It is Sunday, and the blister didn't hurt as much, but I haven't yet tried holding my racquet or hitting. I tried to keep a positive mind but it was hard. I meant not playing and not finishing the tournament was crazy, to think to stop now. But I wanted to withdraw from my semifinals match. That thought tortured me. My coach and I went to the courts, and I tried hitting against the wall. It hurt so bad holding when I held my racquet! We wrapped it up with athletic tapes, and it didn't hurt as much but I felt like I couldn't play. Once again, I seriously thought of quitting the tournament. I cried a lot, but finally I got the "courage to agree" with myself to continue...and here we go!.

My third opponent was India Young. I started off very consistent and tried to forget about the pain, and I did. I got in my zone and I got very focused on my goal. I made a lot of shots in and they were quality shots. I courageously attack and hit a lot of set up shots not too close to the line that helped build up my courage and confidence in my skill. I had in my mind to stay steady to put pressure on each point, and stay in the point for as long as it took. I won 6-3, 6-1..

It felt great to be in the final. But, I felt even better that I got through a tough time. I got through it in my head, and I got through it physically too. I got renewed courage and I wasn't afraid of the pain. My final match was in 2 hours so we went back to the hotel to take a nap. We re-taped my hand and I was ready to play.

my dad and I before we head home

My last and final opponent of the tournament was Mya Bowe. She was a consistent player and I didn't start that way. I was inconsistent because I went for too much. But, in the second set, I changed my tactics. which I became a bit more consistent but I was still making too many unforced errors. I became careless in my shots because I didn't feel the pressure to make them in. That pressure used to help me stay consistent to make better and safer shot choices. Mya, on the other hand, was more aggressive as the match went on, She made me run a lot around the court. I held on but it was hard for me to counter her shots because I didn't have the right mindset early on like I was supposed to. I lost 2-6, 3-6. 

I lost in the final, again. You know I am getting tired of being second place. Why can't I ever get first on an important tournament? ;) Time will answer that one. I felt kind of relieved it was over. The blister pain I mean. I know it was just going to get better from here--the palm blister and my game.

Thank you for being here. I'll catch up with you soon.
Karina Zaharieva