FST Super Champ Major Zone

I had a Super Champ Major Zone tournament starting on Saturday, August 18, 2018. It was called the FST Super Champ Major Zone. It was played in San Antonio, Texas.

too early to smile!

My coach and I got to San Antonio on Friday evening. We got settled into our hotel and got everything prepared for tomorrow. We were exhausted by the time we got there because of the car trip. Especially me! I took a quick shower, got into my PJ's, closed my eyes, dreaming of what tomorrow how my tennis would play out--but, I fell into some deep sleep, and didn't remember a thing! :-) 

​My first match on Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. We arrived early onsite; I stretched and got my heart rate up and my core temperature up before my match. After that, I ate some, (wait, sorry) A LOT of fruit. I ate so much, it gave me a stomach ache! But that didn't last long. Because by then, it was time to play.

very nice courts

My first opponent was Anna Guan. She was a baseline power-hitter. I stayed steady and consistent but still moving and controlling the shots to move her around the court. By doing this, I was able to get some short balls that I could put away. This general tactic did me a lot of good in the first set. For some reason, (fear and doubt, again!), I couldn't fulfill it in the second set. I started going for too risky shots and they didn't pay off. We went to a tiebreaker. I was the one that sucked it up, went back to my first strategy, and took the lead. I was lucky the first few points because she made a few unforced errors. I was able to keep going with that lead up to the last point of the match. I won 6-2, 3-6, (10-5 in the tiebreaker). Whew! 

We went to a Japanese restaurant after my match, and I ordered some sushi to go. Mine had all veggies with some fresh avocado on top. It tasted good and gave me mega energy at the same time! I knew I needed the energy for my next match under the hot, blazing sun! Oh, the forecast was for rain and cloudy, but the actual weather for that day was brutally hot in the afternoon! 

w/ Catherine, walking around watching matches

My second opponent was Dana Kardonik. I played her before at Champ level tournament. It was a close contest between us. I knew she was consistent, so I had to stay really patient to be able to get a chance to win a point from her. I changed my aggression level depending on the points or games to throw her off. I rallied back and forth until I got an opportunity to attack and win the point. I won 6-2, 6-2. There were matches that I can keep my head clear and focus; this was one of them. I was now done with all my singles for the day. It was time for me and my partner Cloe Zeng to begin our doubles play.

w/ Mrs. Seema and Roshin

My partner, Chloe Zeng, and I were playing our first doubles match against Anna Guan and Kori Montoya. Right from teh start, we controlled the rallies, with Chloe's steady baseline groundstrokes, we disrupted Anna and Kori around the court, making it difficult for them to maintain formations, eventually until we won a point. And we kept on repeating that strategy. We made very little errors and we stayed very active at the net. We focused more on our net play than the back court because we had a strong game at the net. In doubles, I finally understood that pressure could also come from your positioning. We won 8-2!

We had one more doubles match for the day. We were playing against the #1 seeded doubles team, Regina Herrera and Sophia Rashid. A first, we stayed consistent at the back court and tried to make opportunities for us to come into the net to play volleys, and put pressure during the point. Regina and Sophia started off hitting very hard and controlling shots, and it took us a couple games to get used to those punishing shots. We had to stay calm and weathered the storm. That plan played out successfully. I felt after a break and hold, we took the lead, we had the match in our hands. At 7-3, it was the longest game of the match. Regina and Sophia fought hard to come back, but we also fought hard to close out the match. When we did, it was a relief. We won 8-3, but it was not as easy as the reported scores..

w/ Chloe, my doubles partner!

I was off to a good start, winning all of my matches on Saturday. I felt confident; but, let's not jinx it. I felt the excitement of not knowing what would happen the next day. Surprisingly, not the nervousness. I had  a good picture of how I was going to play tomorrow which relieved me a bit. I couldn't wait to see what would happen tomorrow.

After I finished my dynamic warm-ups, I watched other players play as I was stretching and felt really into the game. As I was about to start, I starting eating as much fruit as I can, again, to keep my energy up. The Sunday morning was filled with sunshine and cool breeze. It was time to play, and I felt the readiness in me. 

warming up w/ Chloe in the morning

But the reality was much different! My third opponent, Amber Lewis, what hitting a little bit more than I could handle that morning. It was hard to earn points because she kept overpowering me. On top of that, I aimed WAY to close to the lines, and that didn't pay off neither. I played a really risky game when I should have played high percentage game, instead. I was able to make a few opportunities to win a few games, but those got thrown of with errors and mistakes in other games. Unfortunately, I lost 2-6, 3-6. Well, believing and doing were just two separate things. 

The draw fed me into consolation back draw. I had 1 hour before my next match so can you guess what I ate? More FRUIT! Oh god, I was going to get sick of fruit after this tournament. Anyway, then, the front desk called, and my match began. That was too dramatic! Darn it! Ok, ok, just-- ugh. It was time to play. That was better. :-) 

food, water, racquets...good to go!

I was already feeling down from my previous match, and now to face my fourth opponent, Regina Herrera. She had a lot of power and angle on her forehand, which was really hard to defend or counter. I was able to out-rally her or get to a point a point or two, or where she would make an error. I tried to counter her shots but I kept mishitting them outside or in the net because she produced a lot of spin and pace on the ball. And again, I lost 1-6, 3-6.

​Why is tennis so difficult? Can this question have only one answer? It looks easy when I was watching other played. Why is tennis so, so....I can't find the word. Tennis is so many different things that help shape it the way it is. You need the courage, the bravery, the smarts, the attitude, and the struggle.  You can't play good tennis without that fight, that struggle. Everyone can fight and struggle to come out on top; but only a few understands and wants to enjoy the fight and the struggle. I have not, yet, reached that understandings.

all the doubles super stars!!!

Chloe and I were still in it for doubles. This next match we were playing against Dana Kardonik and Jennifer Jackson.  We didn't make a lot of errors, we both kind of went with the game flow. We relied on our consistency and fast paced balls for this match. Every time we went too slow, we would lose points. So, we kept our game plan simple, and we won 8-3. As a result of that match with Dana and Jennifer, we made it to the finals! We were both really excited but we kept our emotions calm before our finals match. We stayed focused on our game plan and had an overall idea of what we would do.

we were doubles champions! :-)

Waiting in our doubles finals were Chloe Brisset and Sammi Guse. These two were aggressive players in singles, but in doubles we tried to keep them off-balance. We started off really aggressive. From baseline groundstrokes to net play, we focused on our goal to put constant pressure. We were able to make all the right shots at all the right times! We stayed in control the whole time. I was surprised myself that we were doing so good, up 7-2!!! But, at one point of the match, we started making very careless errors, and they started coming back. Our opponents came back 3 straight games! Chloe, my partner serving for the match at 7-5, we rallied, volleyed, lobbed, angled, more groundstrokes...then a decided to poach during a baseline exchange, winner! Game, set, match! Our net game saved us, and we won! 8-5!

I was really happy that we won but the feeling wasn't as exciting for me, because my singles flopped. I wanted to reach at least to the finals in singles. Everyone always says "you learn from your mistakes" but will I? I was determined to stay on the road, this tennis journey, and have no backtracks. And what road is this you ask?

The road that leads to tennis excellence and personal growth.

I hope to see you soon. I can't wait to share with you about my next tournament.
Karina Zaharieva <3
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i love tennis! ;-)