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SESIL KARATANTCHEVA
THE WEB SITE OF THE TENNIS PLAYER OF KAZAKHSTAN
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Tennis rebel Karatantcheva back on track
AAP
Tuesday 6 January 2009
With a name as unwieldy as her disposition, Bulgarian Sesil Karatantcheva was once considered the wild child of tennis.
As a 14-year-old, she once threatened to kick Maria Sharapovas butt off because of a perceived slight during practice.
But Karatantcheva, 15-year-old French Open quarter-finalist in 2005, is more commonly known for becoming the first woman to be suspended for steroid use.
The then 16-year-old tried to blame the positive test on being pregnant.
Banned for two years, the brash blonde is finally back on the professional circuit and playing in Australia - a favourite destination - for the first time since 2005.
Karatantcheva says it was her own stupidity that helped her make it through the other side of the two-year ban.
In my case, I had nothing else to do, so I just kept practising, she says.
It takes to be kind of stupid.
Out on the court, the outspoken blonde is still turning heads.
A potential spot in the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International beckons after Karatantcheva downed her higher-ranked opponent in a qualifying match.
The 2004 junior French Open champion fought back from a set down to beat Czech Iveta Benesova 1-6 6-4 6-2.
Not too shabby for a tennis player who admitted to having to re-read the rule books.
I kind of feel like a rookie again which is not bad, I kind of like it, she said.
(But) I feel like the grandmother on tour, you know, seeing all these 14 and 15 year olds.
I remember when I was 14, 15 and I was like `Oh my God, Im playing this 20-year-old grandmother. I can understand perfectly.
But if shes to make a concerted effort to climb back up the rankings, Karatantcheva might need to pay closer attention to her competition.
Asked about her next match-up, Karatantcheva began complimenting eighth seed Francesca Schiavone, who was was actually defeated in a surprise result by Belarus Olga Govortsova.
Francesca has a very type of mannish play. Shes not going to rush, shes going to take her time She lost?
Karatantchevas voice rises in pitch.
She did? Im not playing her?
Oh, then I have no idea.
I need to go check.
Karatantcheva admits results just dont feel that important anymore.
Every win is a good win and just, every loss, Im still happy about it - just playing tennis, she said.
You kind of realise what you have once you lose it and I took it for granted - the tournaments, everything.
Then once you stop travelling you have to face reality that I cant do this anymore and you think, (I was) so young.
At a career high, Karatantcheva was ranked No.35 in the world and while she considers herself Grandma Sesil now, she believes anything is possible.
You probably think Im slow and old, but I still have some fightback, she said.
Especially in womens tennis you can expect anything.
It doesnt matter if youre losing five-love or 40-love, a womans mind is just anti-logic.
You can just click, come back.
And Karatantcheva already knows how good that feels.
Brisbane International
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