FedererBulgaria
Mar 10th, 2008, 11:01 AM
;)
WELLS - Sesil Karatantcheva returned this week to the Pacific Life Open, where she made her professional debut four years ago, and won this year's pre-qualifying tournament to advance into today's qualifying draw as a wild card.
Her stop here at Indian Wells Tennis Garden at age 14 was not her first, however.
"When I was 11 and in the (tennis) academies, I came here and I was Scooby Doo,'' said Karatantcheva, who dressed in costume during the tournament back then. "I loved being here even though I was about to die because it (costume) was so hot, but much fun.
"But Indian Wells is the first of everything for me; this tournament will be remembered as one of my best. It was my first professional tournament at 14, then it was the first one I got to come back to as a pro."
Coming back now has been a two-year journey as the 18-year-old Bulgarian was banned from play in 2006 after testing positive for nandrolone. Since her January return this year, she captured two ITF titles; in Surprise Ariz., and the Charlie M Desert Classic last month at the La Quinta Resort and Club.
However, Karatantcheva has lost in the first round main draw of her last three tournaments (Midland, Memphis, Las Vegas) and is hoping for a jump start here at the Pacific Life Open.
"Before, I was anxious to set records and now I'm letting it go natural, giving it slow,'' she said. "There's not the big goals. I enjoy my time out here, a point at a time and it's working for me - not putting pressure on myself. People expect a lot, but now that I'm back, I don't want to leave again.
Karatantcheva made her biggest splash in 2004 here when she reached the third round as a wild card. She upset world No. 120 Alexandra Stevenson in the first round and No. 25 Magui Serna before falling to No. 24 Maria Sharapova.
This week, she's looking for another run after qualifying. Both Karatantcheva and pre-qualifier men's champ Roman Borvanov (a 6-1, 6-1 victor against Levar Harper-Griffith) receive wildcards into the Pacific Life Open qualifying draws, which begin with play today for women and Tuesday on the men's side.
Karatantcheva's two pre-qualifier victories - on Saturday she topped McCall Jones (6-0, 6-3) and on Sunday she beat Nelly Radeva (6-1, 6-3) - has given her a chance to play on. She says that's exactly what she needs.
She cruised to victory in the first set on Sunday, taking big strokes and maintaining momentum. In the second set, she led 3-1 before Radeva used a little frustration to get back in the match at 3-2.
"When you win a first set, it's very hard to maintain focus when you know you won 6-0, or 6-1,'' Karatantcheva said. "Fifty percent of all players go a little bit down in the beginning of second set. Once you start playing more, with a little more experience, that won't happen, but I'm still a little green. I'm still young and learning."
mydesert.com
WELLS - Sesil Karatantcheva returned this week to the Pacific Life Open, where she made her professional debut four years ago, and won this year's pre-qualifying tournament to advance into today's qualifying draw as a wild card.
Her stop here at Indian Wells Tennis Garden at age 14 was not her first, however.
"When I was 11 and in the (tennis) academies, I came here and I was Scooby Doo,'' said Karatantcheva, who dressed in costume during the tournament back then. "I loved being here even though I was about to die because it (costume) was so hot, but much fun.
"But Indian Wells is the first of everything for me; this tournament will be remembered as one of my best. It was my first professional tournament at 14, then it was the first one I got to come back to as a pro."
Coming back now has been a two-year journey as the 18-year-old Bulgarian was banned from play in 2006 after testing positive for nandrolone. Since her January return this year, she captured two ITF titles; in Surprise Ariz., and the Charlie M Desert Classic last month at the La Quinta Resort and Club.
However, Karatantcheva has lost in the first round main draw of her last three tournaments (Midland, Memphis, Las Vegas) and is hoping for a jump start here at the Pacific Life Open.
"Before, I was anxious to set records and now I'm letting it go natural, giving it slow,'' she said. "There's not the big goals. I enjoy my time out here, a point at a time and it's working for me - not putting pressure on myself. People expect a lot, but now that I'm back, I don't want to leave again.
Karatantcheva made her biggest splash in 2004 here when she reached the third round as a wild card. She upset world No. 120 Alexandra Stevenson in the first round and No. 25 Magui Serna before falling to No. 24 Maria Sharapova.
This week, she's looking for another run after qualifying. Both Karatantcheva and pre-qualifier men's champ Roman Borvanov (a 6-1, 6-1 victor against Levar Harper-Griffith) receive wildcards into the Pacific Life Open qualifying draws, which begin with play today for women and Tuesday on the men's side.
Karatantcheva's two pre-qualifier victories - on Saturday she topped McCall Jones (6-0, 6-3) and on Sunday she beat Nelly Radeva (6-1, 6-3) - has given her a chance to play on. She says that's exactly what she needs.
She cruised to victory in the first set on Sunday, taking big strokes and maintaining momentum. In the second set, she led 3-1 before Radeva used a little frustration to get back in the match at 3-2.
"When you win a first set, it's very hard to maintain focus when you know you won 6-0, or 6-1,'' Karatantcheva said. "Fifty percent of all players go a little bit down in the beginning of second set. Once you start playing more, with a little more experience, that won't happen, but I'm still a little green. I'm still young and learning."
mydesert.com