Katy Super Champ Excellence

The Katy Super Champ Excellence on Oct 14-16 was played in Katy, Texas. This tournament was my first SCMZ Singles  Excellence, which got me very nervous. The location to play in Katy was not too far, but still an hour drive away, and my match was scheduled for 8 a.m., so my coach and I decided to drive there on Friday, checked into a motel nearby, to be near the site. My goal was to have a good night of sleep and I didn't want to feel rushed waking up early on Saturday morning for my early scheduled match. 

first match w/ Chloe Zeng

My first opponent was against one of my tennis good friends, Chloe Zeng, which I lost 6-7 (4-7) 3-6. For some reasons I couldn't remember, but I stayed very defensive most of the match and I didn't feel on too many occasions where I was comfortable in a position to be offensive. When I did have short balls to be offensive, I felt pressured and hesitant to be on the offensive. It was nerve and I should had stuck to more simple patterns and not let my mind get controlled every time I got nervous about winning/losing a point.  For the most part, I was able to stay patient waiting for Chloe to make errors, which that got me a few games, but it was not enough. After losing the first set tie-breaker, it was even more difficult for me to get out of these negative feelings and emotions, I was afraid to hit the ball and not playing up to my ability, even at the right moments. The fear of missing and fear of losing made me inconsistent, and that inconsistency in mindset and tactics ruined my intensity and my best tennis game. I wanted to play my best game, why would I not? 

My second match was not that far away and I had to boost up my energy quickly for me to be able to use all of my strength. I stretched and I waited until it was my turn to play. There were only eight courts at the site and a lot of matches had to be played. 

visiting Katy Mills after two matches...

My second opponent was Regina Herrera. Taking in from my previous match experience, I stayed consistent and was able to execute my shots throughout the match. Although I did make a bit too much errors but I was able to come back from those errors and compensated with a few more forced errors on Regina. I was able to keep myself calm and played my own game. I won 6-2, 6-4. I was glad to pull this off. 

These were the only 2 matches for the day. The next 2 were scheduled for tomorrow. In this Single Excellence format everyone was guaranteed 4 matches because of the compass draw format. We all started at East side, then if we lose our first match we go to West, then South and North so on. The goal was to stay in the East draw, which I failed to do because I lost my first match. Anyways, we went back to the hotel, and got some rest, ready for tomorrow. Hopefully, I could keep this up. 

very early in the morning...

My third match was with Mariansofia Aguirre. I was able to take control of the first set by staying very patient and waiting for her to make an error or give me a short ball to attack. I won the first set with that overall strategy. However, in the second set, I knew I had to step up my game, because Mariansofia began to stay steady and more focus on her shots. I started playing a bit more aggressive, but so did she. Eventually we both reached the finish line and I was leading 6-5, I knew it could be my only chance. I stayed very patient and I attacked at just the right moment. I won 6-2, 7-5.

My next match was in 2 hours so I had some time before the West final. I was really excited but also nervous. I had an opportunity to win something and I would hate myself for not taking it. It was scorching at 3pm in the afternoon that day. And hey! Guess what?! That's when i'm playing! So I got my energy up by warming up my muscles and eating fruit and drinking lots of water because I knew it was going to be a tough opponent, and environmental condition wasn't helping neither of us. I did my dynamic warm-up, stretched, and I also sprinted some back and forth just a couple times to get my adrenaline up before the match. 

my finals match w/ Emerson Bousquet

Emerson Bousquet was my final opponent in the West draw in the finals. She played an aggressive baseline style. I got overpowered a lot at the baseline and I lost a lot of points because of that. Well, my first goal was to stay consistent and hoped to neutralize her shots then be on the offensive when I had the chance. My second goal was to keep my own pace and not try to over hit her shots, which I could end up making errors. We stayed pretty even during the first set. It was me tagging along, trailing behind, however. I stayed consistent but it was more of me not wanting to hit the ball, rather than fighting to keep it in the court. It was hard to think during moments like these. I felt like I couldn't do anything. But, I know I could had played a bit better to the best of my ability. Consequently, I ended up losing the first set, 4-6. And the second? Don't even ask. I started breaking down; mentally and technically. I felt like I needed to gain control in some way, but it was full speed going downhill from the get-go of the second set. I ended up losing 4-6, 1-6.

I felt it difficult to recover from a loss like that. It was not the fact that I lost that really haunted me. It was the fact that I didn't do anything about it when I was losing or trailing behind in the rallies and in the scores. What kind of player am I? How can I let myself get trampled in my mental game? It was a difficult question, but I knew the answer. I wasn't strong enough. This was what really tweaked me. Why was I not strong enough? Anyone could be strong mentally, why couldn't I?

That was when I knew I would devote my life into getting mentally stronger and become a fighter on and off the tennis court. 

Until next time I'll see you on court.
Karina Zaharieva

love these bright colors