Racquet Pro Deer Park Fall Challenger

My third Green Ball Challenger win was in Racquet Pro Deer Park Fall Challenger tournament on Saturday, October 07, 2017. We played at San Jacinto College campus. (My brother Emil also played, but at a different site, Deer Park HS-North Campus.) The forecast was calling for rain, but it turned out to be a lovely sunny day for tennis!  

My first match opponent was none other than a good friend of mine, Isabel He. We had on many occasions played each other. She was a consistent player, and if you didn't dictate play from the beginning, you'd soon make errors. So, I had to stay determined and hit slightly more faster and powerful shots to keep her off balance. She knew my game, and so was I. I ended up winning the match 4-0; 4-1. 

Early morning, prepping for my first match.

Claire & I finishing our match!

My second opponent was another player that I had played before. Huntley Buckingham was a very consistent and steady player. She usually didn't hit winners, but she would move me side to side. I got nervous and impatient at times, and would attack on the wrong ball. Many of my balls sailed long. I didn't play as freely as I would in my first match, but was really glad to pull it off with a 4-2; 4-3 win.

Claire & I receiving our medals! :o)

In the finals, I faced Claire Garcon once again. I stayed really focus this time, because I didn't want to have that nervous feeling as I had during my second match with Huntley. I was very familiar with Claire's game. She was a really good, steady player that got her to the finals. Most of my tactics for her was not to rally too many balls, but to hit more angle shots; sometimes deep. sometimes sharp. It worked out well the first set, and she found some ways to counter it during the second set. It was a very good finals, despite the tales of the scores, 4-0; 4-2. 

So, this is my third 10s Green Ball Challenger win! I'm very excited and looking forward to next month in Beaumont. I have one more Green Challenger win and I'm going to be in regular yellow ball Champs level! 

Thank you for reading my tournament journal. 
Karina Zaharieva <3