Bergman Earns Bid to Nationals

One month into her Harvard playing career, freshman Courtney Bergman will be representing the women’s tennis team on the national level.

Competing against players from 56 schools, Bergman won the 2001 Omni Hotels Eastern Region Tennis Championship that concluded this past Tuesday. Bergman defeated Alice Pirsu of Penn, 7-5, 6-1, in the finals to capture the title.

The tournament—formerly known as the ITA championships—is the premier college indoor tennis tourney in the country. By virtue of her first-place performance, Bergman earns the right to advance to the national competition, to be held November 8-11 in Farmers Branch, Texas.

With her six victories at this weekend’s tourney, Bergman improved her singles record to a remarkable 16-1 on the season.

“I feel real confident now,” Bergman said. “I try not to think about my record, though. I just go out there and play my best and whatever happens, happens.”

It was not all smooth sailing for Bergman at this weekend’s tourney—she dropped the first set in both her quarterfinal and semifinal matches—but every time the rookie hit a wall, she bounced back strong.

Bergman faced her toughest battle in the semifinals, facing Delila Causevic of Maryland. Causevic, who stands 6-3 and can wear opponents down with a strong power game, jumped out to a one-set lead in her tilt with Bergman.

But that would be the last set Bergman lost in the tournament, as she rallied back to overtake Causevic, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

“She was a big girl with a big serve,” Bergman said. “Basically, I wanted to break her pace. My objective was to take her out of her game and not let her play the way she wanted.”

In the finals, Bergman trailed Pirsu 4-1 in the first set, but fought all the way back to take the set, 7-5.

Bergman had defeated Pirsu just two weeks ago at the ECAC Tournament. That match took place outdoors.

“When I played her [at ECACs], it was really windy, so I didn’t really know that much about her,” Bergman said. “Our last match had been close, so I just wanted to prove that I could get an edge over her.”

Prior to their meetings with Bergman, Pirsu and Causevic each had to fend off one of Harvard’s other upstart freshmen in the quarterfinals.

Pirsu defeated Alexis Martire. After receiving a bye in the first round, Martire reeled off wins against Diana Perachio of Marist and Emily Marker of Maryland. Against Pirsu, she gained an early upper hand, but ultimately lost, 6-7, 7-5, 6-1.

Causevic’s route to the semis also went through a Harvard freshman. Susanna Lingmann had not lost a set in winning her first two matches of the tournament, but the powerful Causevic proved too much for her. Lingmann fell, 6-1, 7-6.

Three other Harvard players competed in the singles bracket. Senior co-captain Fleur Broughton cruised to victory in the opening round (6-0, 6-0), but was dismissed by Old Dominion’s Lara Van Rooven.

Junior Sanja Bajin fared only slightly better than Broughton, dropping a third-round match to Nicole Ptak of Penn.

Freshman Ashley Hyotte lost in the opening round.

In doubles action, the team of Bajin and Martire advanced all the way to the semifinals, but fell 8-4 to Nataly Cahana and Ana Radeljevic of Old Dominion.