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Bielik shorts collegiate career, turns pro
By Jim Gleitman
Assistant Sports Editor

Bea Bielik has been nothing short of spectacular during her career as a Deac. In fact she has been so good she has nothing more to accomplish.

Maybe that is why after three seasons as the most domiant women’s tennis player to ever come through Wake Bielik has decided to trade in her senior year of eligibility to pursue a career amongst the pro ranks.

The Valley Stream, N.Y. product is coming off a junior season in which she won two of the three national events and was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Player of the Year.

As the NCAA National Champion, Bielik earned a wild card to play in the U.S. Open, which began August 26 in Flushing, N.Y.

"It was a difficult decision, but I feel like I am ready to take the next step and take my game to the next level," Bielik told WakeForestSports.com.

"I am motivated and dedicated to this decision. The experience and success at Wake Forest was very positive," she said. "I am taking lots of great memories with me. I am glad to have helped bring some titles and championships to Wake Forest and hopefully the success will continue at Wake Forest in the future."

Bielik not only brought titles to Wake, but she drew plenty of respect. She cleaned house as junior, practically winning every award possible.

Bielik finished the 2001-2002 season ranked No. 1 in the Omni Hotels national singles rankings with a 35-2 singles record – giving her 100 career singles victories. She set an NCAA Championship record for fewest games lost (21).

The winner of the Honda Award, given annually to the top collegiate women’s tennis player, Bielik was also the recipient of the Mary Garber Award, given annually to the ACC Female Athlete of the Year.

She was named the ACC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and received the Marge Crisp Award, given annually to the Wake Forest Female Athlete of the Year.

One might think Head Women’s Tennis Coach Brian Fleishman would be disappointed his star has chosen to leave, but instead the winner of the coach of the year award is quite pleased.

"It’s time to take the Bea Bielik show on the road. If she continues to work hard and treats tennis like a full time job then I definitely think that she can be successful at that level," Fleishman told WakeForestSports.com.

"We all wish she could come back, but she’s accomplished all she could here. She can come back any time and get her degree."

Apparently Fleishman was Coach of the Year for a reason as his prediction for Bielik is looking solid thus far.

On August 28 she became 2-0 as a professional dominating Tamarine Tanasugarn, the 27th-ranked player in the world in the second round of the U.S. Open.

Bielik won the match 6-4, 6-2 taking only 60 minutes to eliminate her opponent.

She racked up eight aces and averaged 106 miles-per-hour on her first serve, hitting 116 on her fastest. She put 34 of her 54 first serves in and managed to win 23 of those.

Bielik converted four of eight break points and five of 12 net approaches in a performance that puts her in the third round of the U.S. Open.

Of course this would not surprise Fleishman.

"When I am out recruiting and I am talking to recruits about their futures," Fleishman said, "I always tell them that if they win the NCAA Championship then they’ve beaten everybody at the college level and they should go pro. Bea actually went out and did it,"

In her first professional match, Bielik upset 128th-ranked Renata Voracova from the Czech Republic, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Bielik will face-8th seed Justine Henin from Belgium on August 30.