2010 US Open Third Rounder Beatrice Capra on World Team Tennis, Wild Cards, and Getting Better With Age

WASHINGTON--With American media hungry to find "the next Melanie Oudin," Beatrice "Trice" Capra of Ellicott City, Maryland briefly became the face of the 2010 US Open.

After crushing 2004 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Karolina Sprem 6-1, 6-3 in the first round, then 371st-ranked Capra pulled off the upset of the tournament's first week with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory over No. 18 seed Aravane Rezai.

But Capra's run ended emphatically at the hands of three-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova, who bounced Capra from the tournament by the score of 6-0, 6-0 in an absurdly windy Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Capra, who won the USTA's wild card playoff to enter the tournament, had previously planned on going to college at Duke instead of turning pro out of high school.  But her surprising run to the middle weekend of a grand slam complicated those plans, encouraging her to test the waters of the pro circuit further.

But unable to continue the form that had allowed her to beat Sprem and Rezai, Capra has gone 4-13 in matches since the US Open. 

Capra is going to Duke this fall, but had the chance to play for the Philadelphia Freedoms (of Elton John fame) in World Team Tennis this summer.  I caught up with her after the team's final match, a loss to the undefeated Washington Kastles.

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TDF: You just finished your first season playing World Team Tennis--what has the whole experience been like for you?

Beatrice Capra: It's been amazing, I've never done anything like this. I had a great team, I had great coaches, and to be able to play on the court with Rennae Stubbs, Venus Williams, Martina Hingis--it's been an honor and I've had a lot of fun.

TDF: You obviously made a name for yourself at the US Open last year, making the third round there. I know that you're planning on going to college this fall, at Duke--are you going to try to play the US Open before that?

Beatrice Capra: I'm not sure yet. I know that I'll need a wild card into it, so if I get a wild card then for sure I'll play. But if not, I'm leaving for college August 23rd.

TDF: Would you take a wild card into qualifying, if that's what you got?

Beatrice Capra: Oh yeah, I would take anything. (laughs)

TDF: I know after the US Open last year you weren't sure if you were going to go to college or turn pro. What was that process like, coming to this decision?

Beatrice Capra: It was definitely tough, you know. I always wanted to go to college, but at the US Open it gave me a glimpse of what I could do. But I think that for me to go to college and have that education secured will definitely be good for me. Especially since on the women's tour now, you know, everyone's doing well at an older age. So I think I have a lot more time.

TDF: But you're definitely thinking that you want to give it another shot at the pro level once college ends?

Beatrice Capra: Oh for sure, yeah. My main priority is always going to be a professional tennis player.