LAWRENCE: Lawrenceville School grad competes in Cryan tourney

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   Emma Levy has made it a point to play in the James E. Cryan Memorial Tournament every summer that she can.
   The Princeton Junction resident’s success in the tournament that remembers a Levy family friend, Jim Cryan, started when she was 12. She paired with her father, Len, to win the B mixed doubles championship in 2003. Last year, she and friend Caryssa Peretz, teamed up to win the women’s open doubles title while Levy also reached her first open singles final.
   This year, Levy went one step further when she won the open singles championship by avenging her loss to last year’s champion, Vasilisa Bardina of Moscow, Russia. Levy’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win was her first singles title at the Cryan.
   ”It felt really good,” Levy said. “I’ve been going to the Cryan every single year. We know Jim Cryan well. Last year, I got to the finals. Every year, I want to get better.”
   Levy returned to the Cryan this year to kick off her final preparations for a return to Tulane University, where she will be a sophomore on the women’s tennis team. Last year, the Lawrenceville School graduate went 21-10 in singles, including a 16-6 dual-match record to garner second-team All Conference-USA honors, one of only two Green Wave players to do so. Levy tied for the team lead with a 4-2 conference record at second singles, and paired with first singles player Mariam Kurdadze to go 18-11 overall, 12-6 in dual matches.
   ”In terms of playing, I thought I played pretty well,” Levy said. “It was hard going into Division I tennis. It’s three or four hours a day. I played No. 2 singles. I was 16-6. I thought overall I played pretty well this year. I’m looking to do better next year.”
   Her college experience paid off in the Cryan final when she ran up against Bardina again. Last year, Levy had fallen to the professional player, who is returning to playing after an injury.
   ”Playing college tennis really helped me,” Levy said. “In my conference, there are a lot of foreign players. Playing all these different matches helped me get stronger and work on dictating a lot of points more and attacking every ball. I think that helped me against a good player like Bardina, who’s from Russia.”
   Levy was coming off a break from tennis after she remained at Tulane to take a class through June. After taking the month of July off, the Cryan tournament gave her a chance to return to the courts and test herself against strong competition.
   ”I wanted to play some matches before I head back,” said Levy, who returns to New Orleans on Saturday. “That was one step toward getting back into shape and into the season. Our matches are going to start up right away.”
   Getting in a tough finals match at Cryan will help sharpen Levy for her return to collegiate action.
   ”The other semifinal was against two good players so I didn’t know who I was going to play,” Levy said. “When I played Bardina, I wanted to get revenge since I lost in a close match last year. I went in the same way, fighting for every point and I eventually came out on the winning side. I was really happy.
   ”It was also hard for her. She was coming off an injury for eight months. I also give her credit.”
   Levy is hoping that the match bodes well for an even stronger sophomore year. As a freshman, she helped the Green Wave climb as high as No. 67 in the national rankings in just their second year back after Hurricane Katrina forced them to shut down. This year, they return their lineup and add some talented freshmen.
   ”I love Tulane,” Levy said. “Everything fits me well. It fit me perfectly. I love the city. I love everything about Tulane. It’s a great school.”
   Levy won’t forget her hometown though she’s a thousand miles away from it. She is planning to return to defend her Cryan tournament, and hopes to also pair with Peretz again to go after the doubles championship. They weren’t able to compete together in this year’s Cryan.
   ”I’ve played it every year,” Levy said. “It’s a local tournament. I only live 10 minutes away. I expect to be back next year.
   ”It’s a little different (being the defending champion). It feels good. Hopefully next year will be the same thing. It’s definitely exciting.”