Black Tennis Pros

First round play has begun at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California and twenty-three year old American Angela Haynes, who received a wild card into this tournament, has begun the event in fine form and fashion. Wearing her signature head scarf, Angela defeated her Italian opponent Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2.

"People have been asking me where I've been," Haynes said. "Have I been hurt? No, I've just been playing challengers."

Regarding having to try and comeback from being 0-4 down during the match Angela said, "I figured it couldn't get any worse. I was going to call my dad, my coach, after the set and ask him what I was doing wrong. I needed some help, badly."

"I felt if I can get one game and get my nerves down and get something going, I felt I was going to be OK. She was playing well. I was just giving her too many free points."

Angela talked about falling so far down in the rankings. "Back when I was playing well, having good results, you can take it for granted so easily, and I think that's what I did. I got a little cocky and had a couple of humbling experiences."

"Being here now, you just have to work hard and when you get to where you want to be, you have to work even harder to keep it. I definitely know that now."

Angela then talked about the time subsequent to losing her brother and getting back on the road. "It's brought us a lot closer, especially after what happened to my brother. I respect my dad a whole lot more. He went back with me on the road a month after my brother passed away, which was the hardest thing for him. It was very tough, my mom needed him the most and he came with me."

"My mind has really, really been gone, I've had a lot of setbacks. I've tried to get it back and my mind was gone again. But this year I feel good. My head is there. I've got to leave it behind me and move forward."

Angela, who resides not very far away in Irvine, California, has a challenging second round coming up, she will be playing the defending champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Unfortunately American Scoville Jenkins did not share the same match success today.

Scoville was attempting to enter the main draw through the qualifying rounds. He made it to the second round, but was defeated on Wednesday by Serbian Dusan Vemic 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3).