The UCLA women’s tennis team may have been expecting an
appearance from one of its players in the Flight I finals of the
Pac-10 Indoor Championships this past weekend in Seattle, but the
Bruins were surprised when that player turned out to be freshman
Daniela Bercek.
Although 17th-ranked and No. 3 seed Jackie Carleton fell in the
second round, Bercek redeemed the Bruins in her first collegiate
tournament. She did not give up a game in her first match against
Arizona State’s Kady Pooler, and after outlasting
Washington’s Claire Carter 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the second round,
she picked up an impressive win over top-seeded Raquel Kops-Jones
of California in the semi-finals, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Although she fell to second-seeded Daria Panova of Oregon in the
final, 6-4, 6-3, her play throughout the tournament was a very
encouraging sign to coach Stella Sampras Webster.
“We knew she was good, but we didn’t know how
good,” Sampras Webster said. “She showed the team and
others that she’s one of the top players in the
nation.”
Even though she did not capture the singles title, Bercek did
team up with junior Sarah Gregg to win the Flight II doubles
championship.
Although it was the first time the pair played together, their
closest match was a second round 8-5 victory over Arizona’s
Kelly Perry and Jessie Rochefort. However, Sampras Webster may
still split them up during the regular season.
“I’m not sold on any team yet,” she said.
“We need to find three teams that can help us win that one
doubles point. It’s going to take time.”
Bercek and Gregg were not the only Bruins to enjoy success at
the tournament. Sophomore Feriel Esseghir, coming off a foot injury
that sidelined her for the majority of last season, won the Flight
III draw, defeating teammate Lauren Fisher, 7-5, 6-3 in the
finals.
“Feriel is moving better,” doubles teammate Carleton
said. “She trusts her foot a lot more.”
Three of the four Bruins that entered the Flight III singles
draw reached the semifinals. Fisher’s 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(1)
semifinal victory over teammate Laura Gordon was one of the most
competitive matches throughout the tournament.
“It was exciting to see them play,” Sampras Webster
said. “Their bodies seem to be holding up, and hopefully,
they’ll stay healthy.”
Whether the positive results from this past weekend translate
into impressive victories in dual matches over the Pac-10 elite is
yet to be seen. Although a win over Stanford or Cal still may not
be expected, it won’t come as a surprise.