Fourteen-year-old Gabby Andrews of Pomona, Calif., won her quarterfinal match on Thursday at the 44th annual Easter Bowl. Here’s what Andrews had to say about her day.

Hello! How is everyone doing this lovely Thursday evening? I hope you are having as much fun as I am at the Easter Bowl Championships!

The Easter Bowl is one of my favorite tournaments. Last year I won the Easter Bowl 14s divisions, and this year I'm playing in the 18s division. I have participated in the Easter Bowl four times now, beginning when I was just 11 years old. Each year has been better than the last. Many great players have participated in this tournament, and I am really happy to be one of them.

Today I played in the singles quarterfinals against Stephanie Nauta, the No. 4-seeded player. Stephanie is a great player, and I was fortunate to come out with the win, 6-1, 7-5. During the second set, I lost my focus and found myself down, 2-5. I just kept telling myself to take one point at a time and to think positive and, as I said before, I was really fortunate to pull this one out.

Immediately after "cardiac" the match, I stumbled over to the massage table with Brian Horner, the sports therapist guy. I haven't had a massage in three days and was in desperate need of one. I could hear my whole body cracking and popping internally during the massage. I think the decibel level was so loud it interrupted the match on center court! Embarrassing, to say the least.
 
But then I knew I had to refocus on my doubles match with my incredibly talented doubles partner Taylor "Tay Tay" Townsend! Taylor, myself, along with Brooke Austin, are like sisters. We all met for the first time during a tennis camp when we were about 7 or 8 years old. Since then, we have traveled the world together playing tennis. If ever they made a movie, it would be titled "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" or something like that. Taylor and I won our quarterfinal match today. It was a great win and all four of us played really well.

As I said before, I feel fortunate and blessed to have so many opportunities awarded to me from playing tennis. I also think about the people who have played an important role in my tennis development. My parents, of course, Lionel Rival, Darren Richer and my primary coach Barry Friedman at the Claremont Club.

Well, it’s past my bedtime, so I should be hitting the hay soon. It’s great to be playing at the Easter Bowl 2011. :)


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