News & Features

Two broken strings didn't decide who won the USTA Girls 14 Nationals in Peachtree City, Ga., on Aug. 15.

But it was certainly a turning point.

Christina Makarova of San Diego led Hayley Carter of Hilton Head, S.C., 4-3 in the singles final when her first racket string broke. Makarova was serving at 5-4, 30-15 when she broke a string on her replacement racket.

There were no more good rackets in her bag, so Makarova - two points from the first set - went searching for a demo at a local pro shop, was penalized a game for leaving the court for too long and won only one more game in the match.

Carter, a No. 17 seed, prevailed 7-5, 6-1.

"I think it helped a little," said Carter, who claimed her fifth singles national title, counting three won in Little Mo Nationals at ages 8, 9 and 10. "It changed the momentum. I started playing better after she switched the rackets, and she started playing worse."

Makarova said she couldn't get used to the demo, which was a Babolat. She is sponsored by Head.

"That was extremely frustrating," Makarova said. "I just needed two more points and I would've won the first set. Then the last racket goes poof. It just breaks. That's never happened to me before."

But Makarova, who upset No. 1 seed Jamie Loeb of New York 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in the quarterfinals, said her main problem was Carter, who out-steadied her from the baseline as the match wore on.