It had histrionics, verbal sparring, a biased judge and even a ruling body that intervened.
But this wasn't Olympic figure skating. It was women's tennis. And North Carolina brought a taste of the drama of Salt Lake City right to Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in its 4-3 win against No. 12 Northwestern on Sunday.
The 10th-ranked Tar Heels (6-1) were up 3-2 in the contest as No. 2 singles player Julie Rotondi's match moved into its third set. Rotondi had lost the first set, but not her confidence.
"I knew the most important games would be those first two games of the second set," she said. "I played horrendous in the first set. It couldn't get any worse."
Things quickly got better, for the fans and Rotondi. After sweeping the first two games of the second set, she cruised to a 6-1 win. In the third set, the drama started with a Rotondi shot that her opponent, Lia Jackson, called wide.
Rotondi was outraged and appealed to the judge sitting courtside, who overruled Jackson's call. Later, Jackson was overruled again on an incorrect line call.
She let out her frustrations after a close "out" call by Rotondi, yelling, "You know that was in!"
But Rotondi's call was not overturned, and the match continued with Rotondi yelling after each big point she won.
"We're both very competitive, both hate to lose," Rotondi said. "We're both pretty obnoxious. I almost lost my voice."
