Phenom Kobak Returns to Struggling Women’s Tennis

The return of Elizabeth Kobak, who was once ranked first nationally in the 16-and-under division, should help the struggling women’s tennis team’s doubles lineup at this weekend’s Flushing Meadows Invitational. Kobak, a sophomore, missed all of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and did not participate in the first two tournaments of this season.

Head coach Ilene Weintraub said that Kobak would play doubles this weekend and felt that it would provide a big boost to her squad. The Lions will send four doubles teams, along with eight singles players, to go up against opponents from several Ivy schools and other universities such as St. John’s and Penn State.

Weintraub believes the stiffest competition is likely to come from Columbia’s league rivals. She is looking forward to seeing as much of the other Ivy players in the brief fall season as possible.

“I am so grateful to see competition in the fall, especially as a new coach,” Weintraub said. “All the coaches know players in the conference better than I do.”

One area the Lions are looking to improve upon is their doubles play. In the season-opening Columbia Invitational, the doubles teams went 1-5 against Brown and Penn. Weintraub, a former doubles player, believes that she can provide some insight.
“Having a gameplan, the right strategy and positioning, and doubles tactics—these are all things that I am helping them to learn,” Weintraub said. “I am a doubles player myself and a lot of what I’m telling them is new for them.”

Kobak should be able to provide some much needed depth. She participated in various national and international tournaments in 2005 and 2006 leading to a No. 572 ranking by the WTA.

“She’s one of the best Columbia’s ever had,” Weintraub said. “I just want her to go out and not get hurt. I know that, when her level of play was at the highest, she would be one of the strongest in the draw.”