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Zsilinszka "Serving Up Aces" with Pete Sampras and John McEnroe
8/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. - Incoming freshman Reka Zsilinszka had the opportunity of a lifetime on July 21, 2007, as she shared the court with two of the greatest tennis players of all-time in Pete Sampras and John McEnroe. As part of the "Serving Up Aces" tour, the Fayetteville, N.C., native played alongside Sampras, while Sara Anundsen, a recent graduate of North Carolina, paired with McEnroe on the opposite side of the net. Here, Zsilinszka shares her experience with GoDuke.com.
On July 21, 2007, I got to do something few tennis players can attest to; I got to beat John McEnroe. Disregarding the fact that it was a light exhibition tiebreaker, and that I had a bit of help by the name of Pete Sampras on my side of the net, I can fairly make that claim!
My name is Reka Zsilinszka, and I was one of four players chosen to participate in the exhibition match between John McEnroe and Pete Sampras held in the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C. I'm the number one national player, and ranked 14th in the world on the ITF (International Tennis Federation) rankings, so I have played my fair share of junior Grand Slams, but nothing could prepare me for the magnitude of being in such close proximity to two great champions.
The exhibition match started at 4 p.m., which Sampras won in three sets, but it was more of a fun tennis session for them. I later asked Sampras (like that's a phrase I get to say everyday!) if he was trying his best, and he gave me a wry grin and replied, “Forty percent.” Goes to show, the “King of Swing” has still got it!
Afterward, the three other competitors and I were introduced by our names and accomplishments, and we walked onto the court one by one. Of course, as the youngest (and coolest since I was going to Duke!) of my group, I was called first. Playing in an N.C. State arena, where I was introduced as a soon-to-be Duke freshman, I got my share of boos walking onto the blue court, which didn't help to ease my tension any. I went and sat right down next to Pete, who seemed confused by the booing, not able to figure out why the friendly crowd suddenly started to boo him. I then proceeded to explain to the greatest tennis player who had ever lived the significance of the rivalries between N.C. State, North Carolina and Duke. Next, Sara Anundsen, was introduced, and she had just recently graduated from UNC. She was to play with McEnroe. The other two boys were both from N.C. State and were introduced with much cheering.
After chatting with Pete for a few minutes, asking him questions ranging from his string tension, to his sister's head coaching position at UCLA, I reluctantly departed from my seat beside him, and walked onto the court to warm up. As casual as this may seem, it's not that easy when there is a 5,000-plus crowd watching you swing through your strokes! I am proud to say, I didn't suffer any drastic mis-hits or whiffs, and held up well under that pressure. I don't know if I can say the same for the two other guys, who were pretty much green by this time, and barely breathing, but from afar, they too, looked poised.
Following the warm-up, the girls paired up with their partners; me with Pete, and Sarah with John. The 10-point tiebreaker that we played was a blur for me; I distinctly remember getting aced by John, having him hit a winner on me, hitting a winner between the two of them, and running across the court to take a ball that should have been Pete's. But altogether, I don't think I managed to embarrass myself too badly, and after I walked off the court, I could barely move a foot without people swarming to congratulate me! We had won the tiebreak, 10-8.
It was all in all a very exciting experience. Later, we stopped by Trader Joe's (my mom's idea), which is a good distance away from the stadium, and two guys who said that they had just seen me play at the RBC Center approached me. I talked to them for a bit, and then went to find my parents. About two seconds later, a woman walks up to me and introduces herself as one of the men's wife, and tells me, “You just made my husband's life”. To hear that was seriously one of the best feelings in the world, mirrored by how Sampras had made MY life by talking to ME. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day to give someone that same feeling!
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