Yaroshuk screams her way into playing form
Controversial on-court behavior fuels Paige Yaroshuk’s tennis
game
By Chris Isidro
The moment the ball left her racket, UCLA junior Paige Yaroshuk
knew she hit a shot for the ages. Yaroshuk didn’t nail a running
passer down the line or a diving volley, but a soft floater Â
marked for Cardinal head coach Frank Brennan’s right temple.
The words reckless and out of control were used to describe the
Bruin captain after that incident two weeks ago. But those
adjectives are nothing new to Yaroshuk. Her vociferous on-court
demeanor has drawn ire ever since her days in the juniors.
"I think a lot of people look at it as something bad," Yaroshuk
said. "I think a lot of people don’t agree with tennis players
acting that way."
But like it or not, Yaroshuk hasn’t changed since she first took
the courts at age 10. Despite the coaching staff’s attempts to
temper Yaroshuk’s wails, the Bruin redshirt junior makes herself
heard on the court.
"It gets me into the match  instead of just being out
there being lax and not saying a word," she said. "If I’m not
getting mad at myself when I miss or pumping my fist when I’m doing
well, I don’t feel like I’m into it as much."
Yaroshuk’s mouth is not her only weapon on the court. Despite a
collegiate career wrought with arm and shoulder injuries, the
5-foot-10-inch junior still has her devastating forehand and a
variety of slices to keep the opposition off balance.
"She’s someone you hate to play against," California’s Valerie
Poulos said. "But she’s interesting to watch."
When Yaroshuk misses her shots, the decibel level jumps. The
Miami native is her own biggest critic screaming comments like
"Sick of this," "Nice, Paige" and "You little choker," after an
easy put away finds the nylon.
"If I’m on the court and I miss an easy shot, I’m not afraid to
say it’s a choke because if it’s a choke, it’s a choke," Yaroshuk
said. "I know from talking to my teammates that I say some pretty
weird things out there. But after the last point is over, I just
don’t give a second thought and just move on to the next
match."
Fellow junior Keri Phebus rooms with Yaroshuk on the road and
often plays alongside her at dual matches. Phebus, one of the
calmest Bruins on the court, occasionally tries to offer Yaroshuk
her perspective on on-court demeanor.
"I’ve always been taught that you should not show your emotions
on the court and let your opponent see you down," Phebus said. "But
Paige is like John McEnroe because she plays her best tennis when
she fires herself up."
UCLA head coach Bill Zaima first saw Yaroshuk in action at a
juniors tournament in 1990. He saw the fire burning inside the then
16-year-old and eventually offered her a spot on the squad.
In her four years at UCLA, Yaroshuk has yet to enjoy an
injury-free campaign and spent all of last season recovering from
shoulder surgery. This year, she has been hobbled by torn knee
cartilage and has been embroiled in several long, frustrating
matches, going 9-9 in dual matches at No. 3.
"What hasn’t been able to develop because of injuries is the end
product of all of her feistiness," Zaima said, "because she has to
use that to compensate for the lack of physical strength she should
have for a 21-year-old junior."
Her frustration boiled at Stanford two weeks ago. Engaged in a
grinder against longtime rival Kim Shasby in front of a hostile
crowd, Yaroshuk said that Brennan made derisive comments between
her first and second serve.
"I thought it was pretty poor from a coaching standpoint to get
involved in the match like that," Yaroshuk said. "Let the drunk
guys in the stands do that."
After Yaroshuk won the game, she turned around and aimed the
ball into the tarp just below Brennan. Instead, the ball sailed six
feet above the cloth and hit the Stanford coach square in the
head.
"That’s just reckless behavior," Brennan said. "We’ve done it,
we’ve all done stupid things like that, but you sure feel bad and
you make a point of never doing it again."
Brennan believes Yaroshuk’s style is not good for the game or
the fans. Although he said the incident was unintentional, he said
that Yaroshuk should practice more restraint on the courts.
"I happen to be one of the people who like Paige," Brennan said.
"She’s a nice kid and she handles herself off the court very well.
But once she takes the court, a different personality takes over
and it’s just unfortunate. I think it hurts her tennis."
But after many years of playing with a fire, Yaroshuk has
learned not to get burned. Her teammates realize that Yaroshuk’s
demeanor is an important part of her game.
"Her competitive nature is something I respect very highly,"
Zaima said. "She’s a very expressive person and she needs an avenue
to let it all out."
Added Yaroshuk: "I know at times that it gets in the way. But
I’m not about to change my style. I’m out there just having
fun."