By John C. O'Connell
Bielik, who'll turn 22 in November, lost in straight sets Friday to Justine Henin, 20, of Belgium in 65 minutes of play, 7-5, 6-1.
Even in her loss to the experienced champion, Bielik had impressive stats, with a fastest serve of 115 mph to Henin's 107, a faster average first serve of 106 mph to Henin's 100, and a faster average second service of 85 mph to her opponent's 81. Speed notwithstanding, Henin scored a total of 61 points to Bielik's 46. While Bielik turned professional only Aug. 23rd, Henin has been a pro since 1999.
Bielik's selection as one of five American main draw women's singles wild card entries into the 2002 Open Championships was announced Aug. 15 by the United States Tennis Association.
In the 2001-2002 season as a junior at Wake Forest University, Bielik won two of three major singles titles. She lost only 21 games on her way to the Division I women's singles title in May, an NCAA record. The three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American won the Omni Hotels National Indoor Intercollegiate Championship. Her record last season was 35-2. She was also the college 2002 National Clay Court champion.
Her parents, Josef and Jennifer, her Hewlett High School coach Gail Weintraub, Section VIII tennis coordinator Sunny Fishkind, current and former Hewlett High tennis team players and Five Towns and Valley Stream fans cheered Bielik on at the Flushing tennis center all week, according to published reports.
Weintraub hadn't seen her play since high school in 1998. The coach was proud.
At the Open, "I felt like this was my child. Because I love this kid. I could see her smiling because I know what kind of a clown she is. She's funny! And I could tell just by looking at her that she had this feeling of confidence," the coach said.
Weintraub knows just what kind of player, and person, Bea Bielik is. Back at Hewlett High, Weintraub remembers Bea as "an exceptional kid; extremely intelligent, very mature for her age. She'd been all over the world. It was like talking to an adult, but an adult with a great sense of humor."
Weintraub said Bielik was a team player. "She never wanted to let the team down; always very concerned about the team."
The coach remembers Bea's senior year well.
"That year Bea came in first in the county championship and my first singles player and a first doubles player, I put them together, and they came in second in the county in doubles. All three kids, Bea, Lori Barsel and Jessica Scruggs, they went to the state championships together, and that's unheard of also."
Also watching with hope and praise were Katrina Adams of the USTA's national program, and Perry Atkinson of the Point Sea Racquet Club in Oceanside, where Bielik's family first moved from Hungry and where she first played tennis.
"She was an athlete from day one," her father is quoted as saying. "Basketball, soccer, badminton, everything. One day I bought a pair of tennis racquets. I figured I would play with my wife. But [Bea] liked it."
She learned the game quickly, and learned even faster to master it, because Bielik won the Nassau County Championship and the New York State Championship in her senior year at Hewlett High.
Having earned a tennis scholarship to Wake Forest, it wasn't an easy decision to turn pro. Nonetheless, according to published statements, Bielik won't be going back for her senior year. "I just felt that I had competed at a high level in college and I had achieved everything there is to achieve. I was just very motivated and dedicated to becoming a professional," Bielik is quoted as saying.
What does Coach Weintraub think of Bea turning pro? "She's a pretty steady kid; she's confident and mature. With one of those matches under her belt in that stadium court now, I think she'll be all right, going on pro."
If her strong professional debut performance in Flushing last week is any indication, her friends and supporters in Hewlett High, the Five Towns, Valley Stream and tennis enthusiasts everywhere will soon be seeing more of that dedication turning into victorious straight sets and aces on the world's courts.
