Photographs have the ability to capture important pieces of our past and help us recall people, places, feelings and memories that made an impact on our lives. For many scholar-athletes, pictures secure those special moments and assist in making their collegiate careers last forever.

In a new feature called “Fab Five”, Triton scholar-athletes are tasked to pick five of their favorite photos throughout their career to be highlighted on UCSDtritons.com.

LA JOLLA, Calif. – As our “Fab Five” series continues, UC San Diego tennis rising junior Anu Bhadada shares her collection and a brief caption describing each moment. 

Bhadada hails from San Diego, Calif., majoring in bioengineering at Warren College.

1. The Moment Before the Madness

Tennis is fast-paced—you are constantly reacting to your opponent’s shots, playing high-intensity points, and sprinting to chase down balls. The serve is the one shot you have complete control of, the only shot you can fully decide how and where to hit it. The seconds leading up to a serve are ones where time seems to slow down. This photo is of the moment I steady myself, take a deep breath, and mentally lock myself in before facing the madness of the forthcoming point.

2. Nothing for Granted

This photo was taken at one of our last practices this year, and it captures my favorite shot in tennis, the forehand. Our season was abruptly cut short due to the pandemic, and I was unable to play for nearly 3 months afterwards. This photo reminds me to not take even the smallest things for granted—just being able to go to a court, hit forehands, and train with a team is truly one of the biggest blessings in my life. 

3. Coached to Victory

This photo was taken last year during my first-ever collegiate match. It’s one of my favorites, because it showcases the effort our amazing coaches put in on the sidelines to help us play our best. In this match, my teammate and I were both competing for the first time, and under the guidance of our Assistant Coach, Denny Fafek, we came out with a victory over our higher-ranked opponents. The diligence and enthusiasm of both him and our Head Coach, Liz LaPlante, are a big part of what makes us a standout program.

4. Locked In

One of the most unique aspects of tennis is how much it relies on being mentally tough and focused. Your technique, tactics, and athletic abilities are important, but what really distinguishes a good tennis player from a great tennis player is mentality. Staying positive, letting go of bad shots, and blocking out what’s happening outside of the court are mental aspects that I’ve worked on just as hard as my physical game. Our coaches, Liz and Denny, tell us to stay “locked in”—focus only on the upcoming point and the ball, and take it one shot at a time. 

5. Worth Every Drop

When you grow up playing tennis, it is a completely individual sport; it’s just you and your opponent on the court, and coaching is not allowed. The individual nature of the sport teaches you how to problem-solve, allows you to solely control the outcome of a match, and helps you build tenacity. But you miss out on experiencing camaraderie, playing for more than yourself, and getting to work towards a common goal. Being a part of UC San Diego’s team has allowed me to enjoy the best of both worlds. I get to compete individually on the court, and I get to play for my university. I train to improve my own game, and I push myself even harder when I see my teammates giving their 110%. I am motivated to win for myself, but I am even more motivated to contribute to a team win.

Tennis aside, being on this team has introduced me to people I will call friends for the rest of my life. Win or lose, I know they will always have my back, which makes all of the blood, sweat, and tears that I have put in worth every drop.

Stay tuned for future editions of “Fab Five” from other UC San Diego scholar-athletes. Below are previous “Fab Five” collections: 

• Zeinab Torabi (women's track and field)
• Isabel Lavrov (softball)
• Cameron Leonard (baseball)
• Neil Tengbumroong (men's tennis)
• Konami Masui (fencing)
• Natalie Widmer (women's soccer)

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I.  The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in DivisionsIII and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.