It was just the third match of the season, but the Newport Beach Breakers were already in a bind.
The World Team Tennis squad had just lost its second consecutive match, and worse, one of its top players – Angelika Bachmann – suffered an injury that would eventually sit her out for the remainder of the season.
Seeking a replacement, the Breakers called on Women’s Tennis Association veteran and recent Aliso Viejo resident Lilia Osterloh. Osterloh has played on the WTA Tour since 1997 and reached a top ranking of No. 41 in 2001.
Although she struggled in her first match – losing two of her first three sets – the 30-year-old caught fire in the next two matches, winning five of her next six sets. As of this week, Osterloh is currently 7-7 in sets for the season. In WTT play, players are asked to not only play singles, but doubles and mixed doubles as well. Osterloh’s record is against some of the top players in the world, including Venus and Serena Williams, and legend Martina Navratilova.
For Osterloh, the five matches she played for the Breakers served as a tune-up for the remainder of the 2008 WTA season.
“That’s my goal,” said Osterloh. “I definitely want to get back on the tour.”
Osterloh has had some impressive performances already on her resume. She has won two doubles titles, advanced to the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2000, and has scored wins over some of the game’s top players, such as Jennifer Capriati and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
Contact the writer: mgarcia@ocregister.com
