THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 17, 1996 TAG: 9607170497
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 57 lines
You'll see doubles at this week's USTA Girls' 16 National Claycourt Tournament in Virginia Beach.
You'll see double, too.
Jerath, Jerath. Bergman, Bergman. Miller, Miller. Hedberg, Hedberg.
Four sets of twins, a first for the annual tourney at the Virginia Beach Tennis and Country Club.
``We had the possibility of five,'' says tournament director Laurie Shiflet. ``I was making up the draw and I saw all these same names and I thought, `Hmmm, sisters.' Then I checked the birthdates and they were all identical.''
Identical red ponytails for the Hedbergs, from Austin, Texas. Identical blond ponytails for the Millers, from Gainesville, Ga. The same coiffed black hair for the Jeraths, who are distinguished only by a small chickenpox scar under Aartie's right eye. As for the Bergmans . . . easy.
``We're fraternal,'' says Joyce Bergman. She and sister Janet are from Hilton Head, S.C.
Tennis twins spend their summer together, traveling from one USTA tournament to the next. In addition to a built-in hitting partner, twins often depend on each other for doubles partners.
Mason Miller says it can be a drag if your partner drops out of the tournament, but she doesn't have to worry about that if she's playing with her sis, Lea. ``We're together 24 hours a day,'' she says.
Aartie Jerath says if she and sister Nivedita have a problem on court, they talk it out. ``I know if I miss a ball with her, it's OK,'' she says. ``With other people I'm always saying, `I'm sorry.' ''
The Bergmans are the only twins in this week's tourney who elected not to play doubles together. ``It doesn't always work out,'' says Janet, not elaborating.
Joyce continues: ``We were seeded No. 1 at nationals two years ago and lost in the first round.''
Sometimes there is no choice on court. Twins frequently face each other on opposite sides of the net. The Millers have played each other 20 times and are split at 10 wins apiece. The Hedbergs are almost guaranteed of meeting annually in Texas' biggest tournament; Lindsey is ranked fourth in the state and Ashley 11th.
The Jeraths, 15, of Augusta, Ga., enjoy competing against the other but only in a final - that way they've both advanced as far as they can. Nivedita was ranked 33rd nationally in the Girls 14s last year and Aartie was ranked 41st.
``We never know who's going to win,'' Nivedita says. But Aartie concedes that her older sis - by two minutes - usually does.
Their mother, Veena, who played tennis in her native India, has found an easy way to keep things in perspective. ``I don't watch,'' she says.
Nivedita has a stronger forehand and prefers the baseline. Aartie favors her backhand and likes to attack. With contrasting strengths and weaknesses, Aartie says, ``If you'd mix them up, we'd be a really great player.''
NOTE: Mily Kannarkat of Virginia Beach pulled out of the tournament before her first match because of a stomach virus. by CNB