It’s one day at a time for w. tennis’ Rudolph
By Chris Isidro
Ace Bandages and ice cubes are common sights at UCLA women’s
tennis matches. Third-ranked UCLA is no stranger to the training
room as injuries have forced five different Bruins to the
sidelines.
Just as Susie Starrett and Anicia Mendez rejoined the lineup,
freshman Kelly Rudolph began her stint in the rooting section. Only
five months after arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage,
Rudolph returned to the table over the break to work on the same
knee.
Doctors removed a cyst developing next to Rudolph’s left kneecap
and also sewed another tear in the cartilage underneath the growth.
The Bruin freshman looks to return to action in five weeks.
"The plan is for me to play in the NCAA’s," Rudolph said. "I
just want to take it day-by-day because two surgeries in one year
is a lot."
Rudolph played her first match for UCLA in January, only three
months after her initial operation. She started quickly, earning a
spot at No. 5 singles. However, the freshman was constantly
bothered by fluid in her left knee.
"I had the cyst but I was still playing," she said. "The first
time I had it drained, it felt great. But after the second time, it
didn’t feel right and I knew I couldn’t keep doing that."
With much more college tennis on her horizon, Rudolph has no
plans for a hasty return to the courts. Although a quick recovery
would allow her into the singles lineup at the NCAA Championships,
Rudolph is looking beyond this season.
"I have three more years of eligibility and I just enjoy tennis
too much to rush my knee right now," says Rudolph. "What if I mess
it up again? That’s ridiculous. I just want to take care of my
knee."
Rudolph’s loss comes at a key time for the Bruins as they face
their toughest stretch of tennis this month. UCLA encounters hated
rivals Stanford and California twice, USC on the road, then the
Pac-10s and NCAAs to end the season.
However, junior Diana Spadea has filled in well. Sidelined for
several months this season with a variety of leg ailments, the
All-American returned to form  winning her matches handily in
Rudolph’s place at No. 5 singles.
"I wouldn’t trade my eight scholarship athletes for any other
eight players," head coach Bill Zaima said. "When one of our
starters goes down, we always have someone else stepping up for
us."