USTA B&G 12s Level 2 Tournament

The USTA B&G 12s Level 2 Tournament was played at Giamalva Racquet Club in Spring, Texas on October 6-8, 2018. This is another National level up from Level 3. So, I was already expecting even more challenging matches coming my way.

My mom and I drove very early around 7 a.m. in the morning and we had about an hour drive. My match started at 9 a.m., but the format here this time that we played our doubles first, before singles matches. As I came on site, I didn't know who was my doubles partner (Sabrina Lin), and what she looked like, because I had actually never met her! I was worried that we did not have enough time to get to know one another; and, if we would played well as partners. Well, when we did meet, we became great friends right away. Sabrina was very friendly to me. We chatted for a bit, and the tournament desk called us shortly after to begin our first doubles match. 

warming up...

My partner, Sabrina Lin, and I were playing against Thalia Smith and Polina Krumkachev, the #1 seeded doubles team in the tournament. Oh boy! (girls ;)! We were making a lot of unforced errors, and we didn't go big on long rallies. On the other sides. our opponents hit so many clean winners I couldn't even keep count. It was difficult for us to cover one another and stay together because we were quickly out of formation once a point started. And so we lost, 0-6. 

Yeah, Sabrina and I weren't really proud of this match that we played. There was nothing to lose hope here. Our opponents--Thalia and Polina--were too good and too clean with their shots. We moved on in our mind and we waited on to play our singles matches later, which mine was going to be at around 10;30 a.m.

I had 45 minutes to spare. It was a bit chilly and windy this morning, so my mom and I went inside and sat at one of the little tables eating the strawberries she had packed earlier this morning. A professional tennis match was on the TV inside the clubhouse, and as I waited for my singles match I was staring at the TV, enjoying my strawberries. Around 10:15 am I went to check in, but I actually got called around 10:40 for my match. I guess they were a little behind (which is normal and understandably the nature of tennis tournaments),  but who cares, right?! I'm starting my match!

snack break while waiting for my next match

My first opponent was the #1 seed, Thalia Smith, which I just played against her in doubles. "Here we go," my brain was telling me. I was very inconsistent in my strokes and I went for way too many risky shots when I should had stuck to a few more simpler patterns and tactics. I should had mixed up my games to a little more slices, and I should have played more volleys inside the lines. I was able to go to the net and execute my volleys, but I would usually dumped the volleys down to the net. Worse, I was too scared to "hit" the volleys a little harder. Well, it was quick, and things went out of control. I lost control of my plan, my strategy, and my directions. It was a valuable experiential lost for me. I lost 0-6, 1-6, but I was making mental notes. 

getting right to business :-o)

My second opponent was Emerson Bousquet. She hit very powerful serves and had an amazing consistency and pace on her groundstrokes. I moved her around the court a lot and I was able to outhit her at the baseline. However, I did hit a bit too much too close to the lines, which the errors lost me the first set. But in the second, I was the one in control. I was able to keep a steady pace and not hit too close to the lines. I got to 5-4 lead, serving for the set, and I told myself that I am not losing this game. And I didn't lose--the power of motivational suggestion.

But the match was not over, we had to play a tiebreaker. You know tiebreaker in tennis meant a condense scoring. It was very closely contested until I started getting a little hesitant for going for my shots. I didn't play anything specifically unique to wanting to win, instead I just rallied at the baseline and waited for Emerson to donate errors. And that wasn't enough to win me the match. It was a poor strategic decision, so I lost 2-6, 6-4, 7-10 in the tiebreaker.

I think this National tournament really showed me at what level I have to play. It shows me how much more mental toughness I need to have to win a match, even if I was so close to the possibility of winning it. We never know how a match outcome will turn out; we just need to feel right and confident to accept the battle. I am glad for this opportunity to be a part of this tournament and to play with many amazing players.

But most of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to improve myself as a developing tennis player, and as a person.

With love,
Karina Zaharieva