TEMPLETON, September 25, 2025 (by Steve Pratt)

Emina Bektas smiled when asked if she had ever played the Central Coast Classic brought to you by Central Coast Home Health, at the Templeton Tennis Ranch.

A quick Google research showed that the 32-year-old German native Bektas played the first three Central Coast Tennis Classics in 2017, 2018 and 2019, making it all the way to the semifinals that last year before losing to eventual champion Shelby Rogers.

“Yeah, I guess you could say I’m one of the veterans,” said Bektas, who dispatched No. 6 seed Fiona Crawley, 6-1, 6-2, impressively in the first round. “I’ve been around the block a few times.”

She added: “That’s the best I’ve played in a while. I served well and returned well.”

This is Bektas’ first trip back to Templeton since 2019, and she said she loved everything about the Central Coast area.

“It’s calm and quiet and peaceful here,” said Bektas, who next faces last year’s singles finalist Usue Arconada in the second round Thursday. “I love that kind of vibe. It’s so chill. I like the chill vibe.”

Bektas is travelling alone this week but is coached by former ATP pro Ecuadorian Giovanni Lapentti in Miami.

Bektas is currently ranked just outside the top 300 and is looking to get back to her career high of No. 82 she achieved in 2023. Bektas graduated from the University of Michigan in 2015 and is the all-time leader in singles wins (129) and combined wins (258) for the Wolverines.

Posting wins on Wednesday were Southern California natives Kayla Day from Santa Barbara, Claire Liu from Thousand Oaks and wildcard Katrina Scott from Woodland Hills.