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Israeli tennis teen star Mika Buchnik bows out at Wimbledon

MIKA BUCHNIK returns a shot to China's Rueien Zhang during the 18-year-old Israeli's 7-5, 7-6(6) loss over the weekend in the Wimbledon Juniors tournament. (photo credit: Michael J. Lewis) She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls' Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment. Even when things were looking grim Saturday, Mika Buchnik took a moment to stop and look around. Advertisement She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls' Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment. 'This place is amazing,' Buchnik said. 'At one point when it was 4-love down, I just wanted to look around and remember how it feels, because I want to be back here. I really hope I can come here again. It's a reminder of why you're doing this.' 'This' is competing at the highest levels of pro tennis, and Buchnik is getting closer and closer to doing that. The 18-year-old Israeli has risen up the junior ranks to now being ranked No. 31 in the world. Last September, she became the first Israeli – boy or girl – to win a J500 singles title, claiming the Osaka Mayor's Cup in Japan. ISRAELI TEEN Liam Oved both won their first matches at US Open juniors qualifying before bowing out in the second round (credit: LEO STOLCK) And Saturday she was back at Wimbledon, competing in singles for the second time in her career. She put up a great fight against No. 15 seed Ruien Zhang of China but ultimately lost, 7-5, 7-6(6). Advertisement Buchnik will also compete in the girls' doubles tournament; her first match there will be Monday at the earliest. 'If things had gone better lately, maybe I would take pride [in today's match],' Buchnik said a few minutes after walking off the court. 'But since things haven't gone well, it feels like another loss and I'm not happy.' In Saturday's match, Buchnik played evenly with Zhang through the first set. But with Buchnik serving to force a tiebreaker at 5-6, Zhang was able to break serve for the first time and claimed the set. The second set saw a wild swing of momentum. Zhang raced out to a 4-love lead, and it looked like the Israeli teen was about to be out of the tournament in a matter of minutes. Advertisement But then Buchnik's ground game steadied, Zhang started making errors, and suddenly it was 4-3 – and Zhang needed a medical timeout for treatment on her calf. 'For me, I don't think she was really injured, but that's part of the sport,' Buchnik said. 'I knew even if it was 4-love, that I could push a lot more, I had a lot more to give, and I could come back. 'I knew that she was getting worried, though, if she wanted to stop the match like that.' The two battled all the way into a tiebreak, and there Zhang went up 6-3. But Buchnik saved three match points – helped by a crowd that had grown steadily and was supporting her – before finally succumbing. Advertisement Buchnik's parents, Golan and Lilach, looked on with pride as their daughter competed. 'We always enjoy seeing her playing, and are so proud of her,' Lilach said. 'Always a pleasure seeing her.' Leaving Dudi Sela to train at Rafael Nadal for a week Buchnik has seen her tennis level rise significantly over the past year. Last summer, she made the decision to leave the Dudi Sela Academy and train for a week at the prestigious Rafael Nadal Academy. She loved the enormous number of coaches and staff there, and the setting in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, where Nadal grew up. 'It's amazing because they have a coach for you for absolutely everything,' Buchnik said. 'A swing coach, a forehand coach, a mental coach, a physio—everything you could want.' Advertisement After a week there, Buchnik, from Tel Aviv, decided she wanted to stay – and the decision has done wonders for her tennis. (She is coached there by Miguel Fragoso and Polina Radeva.) 'There are so many great players there, so it helps training with them,' Buchnik said. 'I think I have definitely improved.' The Buchniks have been traveling to major tournaments with Mika for a long time, even going to Australia for this year's Australian Open. 'They came all that way and I lost [in the] first round in singles and doubles,' Buchnik said with a laugh. 'I felt so bad. But they've been so incredible and supportive.' Advertisement Also in attendance at the Wimbledon match were a host of US college coaches, hoping to get Buchnik into their program. The University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, and the University of Virginia all had coaches watching her play. But she's not sure if that's the next path for her. 'I still need to think about it – maybe go to college, maybe go back to the Academy,' Buchnik said. 'I have a lot of options, so I'm just not sure.' Whatever path she chooses, this won't be the last time the tennis world hears from Mika Buchnik. Not even close.