It’s been over a year since senior Lauren Fisher has
played a match with the rest of the UCLA women’s tennis
team.
After undergoing surgery last season to relieve pressure from a
swollen tendon in her elbow, Fisher is ready to put her injury
behind her.
Of course, it may take a few weeks.
“It’s going to take time for Lauren to get back to
her past strength,” coach Stella Sampras Webster said.
“Once she is competing again and getting used to it, she will
just get better and better.”
Fisher’s injury has not only affected her game, but her
attitude as well.
“When I first came here, I was just trying to win. I cared
about results more than my actual performance,” Fisher said.
“Now I want to do whatever makes me feel comfortable out
there.”
In her first two seasons, Fisher earned All-American honors for
her doubles play. She reached the quarterfinals at the NCAA Doubles
Championships in 2001 and the finals the following year, amassing a
60-26 doubles record in those two seasons.
Following her injury in fall 2002, Fisher redshirted her junior
season and spent every day in rehab.
“Not having her hurt us in doubles last season,”
Sampras Webster said. “We had to figure out new doubles teams
and other girls had to step up.”
Fisher started competing again this past fall. She maintained a
6-2 doubles record with sophomore Jackie Carleton, making it all
the way to the finals at the ITA National Indoors and the
semifinals at the Riviera ITA All-American tournament.
In January, Fisher competed in singles at the Pac-10 Indoor
Championships in Seattle. She defeated teammate Laura Gordon in the
semifinals, but then fell to sophomore Feriel Esseghir, 7-5, 6-3 in
the final.
These positive signs have Sampras Webster optimistic about
Fisher’s return.
After placing her at No. 4 singles in Seattle, Sampras Webster
hopes to add to Fisher’s already successful doubles career
with singles experience.
“She is the most aggressive player on our team,”
Sampras Webster explained. “She has an all-court game and
she’s our best player up at the net.”
Fisher’s take on playing singles instead of doubles?
“I like doubles because I’m more of a net
player,” she said. “But I’m starting to have more
of an appreciation for singles.”
“Lauren has been a part of some really good teams,”
Sampras Webster said. “She has a great energy about her that
will bring leadership to our young team.”
Fisher is the team captain this season and believes her role is
to make the rest of her team feel more comfortable.
“We have a young team,” she said. “But
everyone is mature and experienced with their play.”
This season Fisher hopes to help lead her team to an NCAA
championship. Despite their past success, the Bruins have never won
an NCAA title.
“Everyone sees us as the underdog just because we’re
young, but that doesn’t mean anything.”
Although she is still overcoming the lingering effects of last
year’s injury, Fisher is looking forward to the challenge of
the upcoming season.
“You deal with it,” Fisher said. “But now
I’m ready for an aggressive season.”