Bookmark this page to:        
Current rating: 0 (0 ratings)
Capra Leading A Wonderful US Open Life
By Joe McDonald
© Natasha Peterson/Corleve
(September 2, 2010) If you thought Cinderella left the building when Melanie Oudin lost to Alona Bondarenko in the second round on Wednesday, get ready for another potential American fairy tale heroine: Beatrice Capra.
The World No. 317 made a name for herself today, scoring her first top 20 win with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 win over 18th-seed Aravane Rezai.
Playing her first career Tour-level main-draw event, the 18-year-old Capra finds herself treading into Oudin territory and that suits the Maryland native just fine.
"I really look up to Melanie," said Capra, who beat Karolina Spred to earn her first Tour-level win. "I watched all of her matches last year, and I was just so happy for her. You know, it was really inspiring to me because I played her a year before, and then she was getting to the quarters of a Grand Slam. It was just unbelievable, and I was so happy for her. I think she's pushed all of the Americans to do better. I mean, for sure I talk to Melanie a lot, and I will for sure ask anything about Maria Sharapova."
That's because Capra will face the three-time Grand Slam champion next. Sharapova did not face a break point in a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of Iveta Benesova to advance to the third round.
Capra was the talk of the Open today and tennis indirectly gave her entry into the world.
She was born to an Italian family and her father emigrated to America. "He's from Monza," Capra said, "and he came over to start his business, which it's called the Tenax Corporation. It's an Italian company, so he started it in America. While he was there in Maryland, my mom taught tennis lessons. He wanted to take tennis lessons, so they met up and here I am."
Her last answer got a round of laughs from the press conference and much like Oudin this young lady is very engaging as she moves up the ranks.
She lives in Delray Beach and trains at the Evert Academy. Capra, who was a quarterfinalist in the US Open juniors last year and at the Roland Garros juniors in June, received a wild card into this tournament.
"A year ago today I was actually playing the juniors here," Capra said. "I've been playing mostly juniors tournaments the entire year and concentrating on that. I've played a couple of pro circuit events and done okay, but it's been mostly juniors. I played a couple of WTA events this year, and lost first round in the qualies in all of them. So, I mean, this is definitely the best I've done so far."
She played a very strong defensive game today, but feels she needs to be more aggressive if she’s going to have any shot against the 14th-seeded Sharapova.
Capra is well aware she's an immense underdog in that match, but is enjoying the ride while it lasts.
"I mean, I always wanted to play in one of the Grand Slams," she said. “I would be watching the Tennis Channel leading up. It's just like, you know, I always wanted that. Whenever I want something, you know, I do my best to get it. You know, every day I would be like, I want this, I want this, and I just can't, you know, believe that it's happening."
Truly, this Capra is living a Wonderful Life.
Joe McDonald is the publisher of TennisLedger.com where this article originated.
|
