ATHENS, Ga. “”mdash; Heading into the tournament, the UCLA
women’s tennis team knew its strongpoint was its depth.
But had the Bruins relied solely on this, they would have been
home by Saturday. Because as strong as the bottom of UCLA’s
lineup proved to be, the story that emerged from the tournament
came from the very top.
In an impressive display, freshman Daniela Bercek, ranked No. 31
entering the weekend, knocked off three top-15 players in the first
three days and had match points against a fourth before it was
suspended. The toughest of those matches was the one on Friday,
because UCLA encountered a nemesis that had turned it away the past
two seasons ““ the quarterfinals.
Although the Bruins had defeated Miami earlier in the season, it
was clear early on that another victory was not guaranteed. This
time around, they were facing a rejuvenated squad that had beaten
top-seeded Florida.
Trailing almost the entire match, the Bruins needed a victory
against No. 4 Megan Bradley on Court 1.
Just two years ago, the Bruins would have turned to Bradley
herself in the same situation. A standout freshman year at UCLA,
she transferred to Miami after 2002. Friday, she seemed poised to
crush them. Bradley had won three straight games over Bercek and
had momentum on her side.
That’s when controversy ensued.
Bercek requested an injury timeout for an aching body and sore
shoulder.
Miami coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews erupted, claiming Bercek was not
injured, but just out of shape.
“A player has every right to call an injury
timeout,” coach Stella Sampras Webster said.
Yaroshuk-Tew’s outburst, which was to no avail, may have
ultimately hurt her own player’s cause.
“She did me a favor,” Bercek said. “She
motivated me more. Who is she to tell me what I can or can’t
do?”
Bercek won the next two games and held on to win 4-6, 6-2,
6-4.
The very next day, Bercek beat Clemson’s sixth-ranked
Julie Coin 6-2, 6-1, for her second clinching win. Those wins sent
the Bruins to the finals for the first time since Sampras Webster
played for UCLA in 1991.
“I knew we lost in the quarterfinals last year,”
Bercek said. “But other than that, I didn’t know about
the past.”
It’s a past that her teammates can now overlook too.
Because with the performances Bercek turned in, UCLA now has a more
pleasant past worth remembering.