SPORTS
9
KANSAN.COM
4
TENNIS FROM PAGE 12
comfortable and at home. For them, tennis was their universal icebreaker.
Growing up with tennis
Khmelitckaia can vividly remember her first tennis tournament in Russia — the beginning of her now decade-long career. Mostly though, she remembers losing, and she ended the tournament in tears.
Now, years later, Khmelnitckaia has had success both in Russia and as a Jayhawk, and she's playing next to her best friend, Rychagova.
Rychagova has been playing tennis for 14 years. Before becoming a jayhawk, she was ranked as high as No.60 in the ITF Junior World Rankings. In 2011, she won the singles tournament at the Grade 4 T52 Cup Junior ITF.
Khmlnitckaia, on the other hand, has been training in tennis for 13 years and has found plenty of success after her very first failure. Before coming to Kansas, Khmlnitckaia was in the top 40 of Russia's national 18-and-under rankings.
In Russia, both Khmelitckiaa and Rychagova have been ranked in the International Tennis Federation Juniors rankings. Now the pair are bringing in titles and accolades for Kansas in their first semester with the team.
"We've known [Rychagova was] going to be a really good player for us for a while." Chapman said. "She's been here since the summer and working extremely hard and gotten in a lot better shape, and I think [she] is becoming comfortable with things."
Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova have been preparing for this stage of her tennis career for more than 13 years. Khmelnitckaia recalls a preference for tennis in her younger years.
"Tennis is my life," Khmelnitckaia said. "I started playing other sports, but tennis attracted me."
Like many children, Khmel-nitckaia wanted to do it all. In her hometown, dancing or playing tennis was a common sport for children her age. She wanted to do both. As Khmel-nitckaia grew older, she realized she had to make a choice, and she chose tennis.
While practicing, Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova are focused on the game and encourage each other. Once they step off the court, they have constant friendship and are always laughing.
Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova's friendship began when they were younger. Because they are the same age, they competed at the same tennis tournaments in Russia.
"We never played against each other in Russia," Khmelnitkaia said. "But we knew each other because we were in the same tournaments, so we became friends."
"We sometimes would spend time together in the tournaments." Rychagova added.
"We never played against each other in Russia. But we knew each other because we were in the same tournaments, so we became friends."
NINA KHMELNITCKAIA Freshman Tennis Player
Playing in the United States
For their first competition in the United States, Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova competed in the 2015 ITA Summer Circuit in July. Khmelnitckaia took the singles title in a face-off against Rychagova, which the two agreed to cut short after one game.
In the fall season, they have already shown tremendous output on the court. Rychagova was the singles runner-up
at the ITA Central Regionals. Rychagova defeated the No. 83 player, then topped the No. 12 player, Viktoriya Lushkova from Oklahoma State, at the ITA Regionales. In the Oklahoma State Invitational, Khmelnitckaia advanced to the Sooner Draw Finals.
Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova's performances have exceeded expectations for typical freshmen, but, most of all, they have given Kansas tennis something to look forward to.
"They have so much more room to grow." Chapman said. "That's a fun thing to watch."
Although Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova have been competing since they were young, when they walk onto the court they still feel overwhelmed with nervousness. To excel as players, they've learned they have to control that feeling and focus on the game.
"I think every player gets nervous because it's kind of frustrating to stay on the court and play against everyone," Khmelnitckaia said. "But if you're a good player you can make up your mind, and during the match you can set up and get out of the nerves."
Life in the United States
When Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova find free time between tennis practice and
schoolwork, they typically pass time hanging out with friends, eating and watching YouTube.
"I like to watch some TV shows or some video bloggers," Rychagova said. "Usually it's something Russian. I don't think you know them."
With practice, weight lifting, schoolwork and a social life, Khmelnitckaia explained that they do not get a lot of sleep during the week. So they use the weekends to catch up on homework and sleep.
During their first months in Lawrence, the two have found a few favorite places to go.
"Starbucks," Rychagova said.
"I usually [get a] caramel Frappuccino or caramel cappuccino."
Khmelitckaia said her favorite place is Prime Blue Sushi Bar.
While Khmelnitckaia and Rychagova are at Kansas, they have made goals for themselves about both academics and their tennis careers.
"Academic, I wish to pass," Rychagova laughed. "Tennis, I thought a lot about ranking. Now I think I just want to do my best for my team. Because it's great emotion together, and I just want to do everything for my team to be better."
Khmelnitckaia has large goals she said she wishes to accomplish as well. She said her mother wants her to continue
her education for six years in order to complete a master's degree. However, Khmelnitckaia is focusing on graduating after four years and finding a job to please her mother.
"My goal is to graduate after four years, maybe find a job, maybe here, maybe in Russia," Khmelnitckaia said.
But Khmelnitckiaa's true goals are much bigger.
"My main goal for today is to become a professional tennis player," Khmelnitckaia continued. "My goal at KU on the tennis side to become a good teammate, and nationals too — team nationals. And I kind of want to be known here for some records or something like that."
Khmlnitckaia and Rychagova have excelled as tennis players both individually and for Kansas as a team this season. They have both found a new home as Jayhawks. They both bring necessary aspects to the team — even humor.
There is a running joke in the team that Khmelnitckaia can be a Rock Chalk Dancer because she has "the walk" perfected. When practice is tough, Khmelnitckaia does her walk, and her teammates smile in response.
Soccer loses third straight on the road at Oklahoma State
- Edited by Derek Skillett
Freshman Parker Roberts yields to an Oklahoma player on Oct. 11.
MISSY MINEAR/KANSAN
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRoI Sports
Two first-half goals closed out a decisive weekend for Kansas soccer as the team lost 2-0 to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.
The Jayhawks already faced a deficit about one minute into the game. The Cowgirls' Madison Mercado scored her fourth goal of the season on a shot from 17 yards out into the top corner of the goal.
The loss to Oklahoma State on Sunday and a 1-0 loss to Texas Tech on Friday brought the Jayhawks' losing streak to three. The games are the team's third and fourth conference losses.
Kansas was left with an even bigger mountain to climb going into halftime as Oklahoma State's Niki McKnight scored to make it 2-0. McKnight, a substitute who played 19 minutes on the day, scored after sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Dobyns let the ball get away from
her, McKnight knocked the ball in from six yards.
Oklahoma State piled on pressure after scoring the pair of goals, but Kansas nearly countered when freshman midfielder Parker Roberts sent a header on goal. It was cleared off the line by an Oklahoma State defender.
The game was one of the more even matches that Kansas soccer has played this season. Kansas was outshot over the 90 minutes 15 to 13. It was also a physical match, with five yellow cards and 22 fouls. The Jayhawks have not played in a game with more yellow cards this season.
After this weekend, the Jayhawks now have a losing record in the Big 12 at 3-4. Kansas may have some hope of finishing fifth in the conference after the team's last game of the season at Rock Chalk Park against TCU, but before this weekend, Kansas had a chance to finish as high as second in the Big 12.
As for tournament implications, the Jayhawks will likely depend on making a run in the Big 12 Tournament to secure a bid to the Women's College Cup. The Big 12 tournament begins Nov. 4 at Swope Park in Kansas City, Mo.
— Edited by Jackson Vickery
Langston Hughes Visiting Professor in the Communications Department
Dr. Alcides Velasquez
Follow Us: Understanding Social Media Individual and Collective Political Participation and Activism
October 28th at 3:30 The Commons, Spooner Hall.
+