Daily Egyptian Reporter 22

When SIUC’s No. 2 tennis player, Sanem Berksoy, competes on the tennis court, she seldom vocalizes her competitiveness. But Berksoy quietly has become one of most successful tennis players in SIUC history.

During her three years of playing at SIUC, Berksoy has become second on the all-time win list for career wins in singles with 105. Maureen Harney, who played at SIUC from 1981 to 1985, is first on the list with 119 wins.

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Berksoy does not get loud on the court, preferring to internalize her frustration or exuberance. She studies on the side line in between matches.

But as a player in her senior year, she has compiled a career record of 105-32. She will have the opportunity to improve on that record this weekend at the University of Memphis Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.

Being the top tennis player at SIUC is not something she has set as a goal. Her main concern is continuing to be a consistent player for the team.

I try to take everything one match at a time, rather than (trying to break a) record, Berksoy said. I’d like to stay consistent with my wins and stay away from injuries if it is possible. I don’t want to be streaky.

Berksoy also has a .766 winning percentage, third on the SIUC all-time win percentage list.

Berksoy’s accomplishments are not limited to the tennis courts. Berksoy is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, and she has a grade point average of 3.97.

Berksoy said her goal is be a professional in every area of her life, including her studies.

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It is especially hard playing a sport because we have to travel a lot, and it is very time-consuming and my major is very time-consuming, Berksoy said. I think being an athlete helps because you know how to manage time. You know how to be under stress. Being in competition, you always want to do well in everything else.

Women’s tennis coach Judy Auld is continually impressed by Berksoy’s abilities on and off the court.

For her, tennis is a release, Auld said. She is very focused and does not like to lose. But she has a good balance. She realizes an athlete can’t worry about classes on the court. And when she is in her classes, she can’t worry (and say), I had a lousy match last weekend.’

Berksoy was a foreign exchange student from Istanbul, Turkey, and she was attending high school in East Moline when Auld recruited her.

Berksoy has been playing tennis since she was 10 years old. She played on club teams in Turkey until her senior year when she played on a high school team.

Because Berksoy was living in the United States, she missed the test to enter into the colleges in Turkey. When schools began to recruit her as a tennis player, she decided to go to a college in the United States.

After entering SIUC in 1994, Berksoy said that adjusting to the pressures of classes and practices in a foreign country went smoothly for her.

I adjusted pretty well, Berksoy said. With practicing, I practiced all of the time before I came here. With classes, I just studied all of the time.

Berksoy plans to continue playing tennis after college, but one of her main goals is to get a master’s degree.

While she works to get her bachelor’s degree, Berksoy said that she hopes to continue to be a positive example to her teammates.

Being a leader on the team is what senior Molly Card admires the most about Berksoy. Card and Berksoy have been roommates since they were freshmen, and Card is Berksoy’s doubles partner.

It is great to have a partner like Sanem, Card said. We feed off each other. She works hard, and she is disciplined. She has determination and competitiveness. If she is second, she is never satisfied with herself.

It is that competitive edge that Berksoy will take to the Memphis Invitational this weekend. The tournament consists of 11 teams including SIUC, and is a draw-style tournament.

One of the concerns is the weather this weekend, which is supposed to be rainy and cold in Memphis.

The cold weather is hard because you can’t grip the racket because your hands are frozen, Berksoy said. But it is the same for both sides.

Regardless of the weather this weekend, Auld said she wants it to be a learning experience for her team especially for the younger players who she thinks should follow Berksoy’s example of discipline.

If I could clone a player and have a dream player Sanem is it, Auld said. She enjoys tennis still, and that is very important. She is a very coachable player and is willing to work on things to improve her overall game.