Claudia Bilkey recalled watching the U.S. Open women’s singles championship match on Sept. 8.
The Vernon Hills sophomore couldn’t take her eyes off champion Naomi Osaka, who defeated Serena Williams in an emotionally charged final.
“Naomi was really brave,” Bilkey said. “Under that kind of pressure, I probably would not have been able to handle that.”
In her second season at the Cougars’ No. 1 singles player, Bilkey is learning how to deal with pressure. That process comes one match at a time.
Against Highland Park on Thursday, Bilkey played Caitlin Goldberg, the Giants’ top singles player and a three-time state meet qualifier.
Goldberg was aggressive and forced Bilkey off her game. Goldberg won the match 6-0, 6-0, and Bilkey knew why.
“She’s a good player, and I need to work on my mentality a bit more,” Bilkey said. “I can’t go in thinking I’m going to lose and (need to) go in more confident.”
Last fall, as a Vernon Hills freshman, Bilkey realized what was missing in her game: more match experience.
When facing opposing teams’ top players, she noticed USTA logos on hats and other tennis apparel. That prompted her to participate in regional USTA tournaments beginning in January. That experience led her to develop a more well-rounded physical and mental approach to the game.
“I learned to read my opponents’ emotions,” Bilkey said. “I can tell when they tense up, and I can use that to my advantage.”
“To use a baseball analogy, throw the fastball, but throw the changeup to keep hitters off balance,” Cougars head coach Doug Gerber added. “When (Bilkey) stays aggressive and mixes up her shots, she can play with these elite players.”
Bilkey doesn’t have to look far to see examples of tennis success. Her father, Bill Bilkey, played at Deerfield in the 1980s. Her paternal grandfather, Richard Bilkey, also played the sport. She grew up in a tennis family with tennis-loving cousins nearby. Her home is within walking distance of the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex.
It was only matter of time before Claudia Bilkey picked up the game. By eighth grade, she was taking group and private lessons.
“They all pushed me into it, but were like, ‘Play if you want to,’ ” Bilkey said of her family’s tennis history. “I ended up really enjoying it and doing it for myself.”
Bilkey was named the Cougars’ No. 1 singles player by the time the Class 1A sectional tournament came around last fall, her freshman year. She’ll likely have the same spot in the lineup this postseason.
Vernon Hills has depth this fall. Along with Bilkey, the Cougars have senior Ria Subramanian and impact freshmen Shriya Avula and Sasha Yuzkiv. Vernon Hills will host a Class 1A sectional this fall.
Bilkey continues to gain experience with the goal of making a deeper run into the postseason. She’ll try to implement the lessons she learned from watching Osaka win a major title.
“I try and put every thought into my shot, take a deep breath, turn around and keep my mind clear for the next shot,” Bilkey said. “To watch (Osaka) keep her composure was really awesome. No matter who stands across from me at the net, I’m playing myself before I’m playing them.”
