July 21, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The third player fell at the hands of Kentucky junior Megan Broderick. She has fought her way through three qualifying matches at the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Tournament and now enters the main draw of the 100k pro event. Broderick knocked off Nicole Bartnik in straight sets Tuesday morning, 6-4, 7-5, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Broderick said. “I was just trying to be as intense as I could. This girl made a few less unforced errors than the others I played so I just had to hang in there. She came up with some good shots but I was just trying to be a backboard and be as aggressive as I could. It feels good.”
Broderick had entered the tournament as a wildcard into the qualifying draw but now sees herself facing even greater competition in the main draw. The majority of main draw players are ranked No. 400 or higher in the world. She’s had some practice as Bartnik ranks No. 889 and Julia Cohen, who Broderick defeated in three sets yesterday, is No. 376.
Broderick and Bartnik stayed neck-and-neck in the first set. Each player held serve until 5-4 when the Wildcat broke Bartnik’s serve to win the first set. The second set wasn’t as quick but stayed just as close.
After three game points Broderick went up a break to take the lead 4-2. Bartnik persevered and brought the match to five-all. In the next game, Broderick needed just one game-point to take the lead. She then solidified her 7-5 win with a love-40 game score.
Broderick won’t be able to rest too much as she plays doubles later this afternoon and enters main draw competition tomorrow.
“I was really tired yesterday but I knew that I needed to eat well and get the right fluids in me,” Broderick said. “This morning I woke up and I felt fine. I knew that I had to use my movement again in this match. I’m feeling okay, a little tired, but I know I can recover over night and be ready for tomorrow.”
Broderick pairs up with teammate Caroline Lilley for an afternoon doubles match against Yi Chen and Mashona Washington. Both opponents were seeded in the qualifier, Chen No. 5 and Washington No. 2, although neither made it into the main draw.
“Doubles always helps singles, especially with your net game and being aggressive,” Broderick said. “I know Caroline [Lilley] is excited to play so that helps get me extra pumped. We are excited for it.”
Broderick must wait to be seeded later today to find out who she will play in tomorrow’s first round of the singles main draw. All four players are ranked higher than No. 300 in the world. She could face either, No. 228 Ahsha Rolle of the United States, No. 216 Ryoko Fuda of Japan, No. 186 Meng Yuan of China or No. 299 Erika Sema of Japan.
