Big Ten tennis is widely recognized as one of the highest echelons of competitive tennis short of the professional ranks. Though many schools from other conferences boast strong tennis programs, the overall strength from top to bottom in the Big Ten sets the competition level a notch above that which most schools face.

For this reason, the University of Wisconsin women’s tennis team places tremendous importance on the Big Ten schedule. Big Ten teams have accumulated 61 NCAA tournament appearances, an indication that success in the Big Ten generally leads to success on the national scene. With the caliber of tennis the Badgers see every time they step on the court for a conference match, the players need to be on top of their games to ensure victory.

That is what makes the beginning of freshman tennis player Caitlin Burke’s career so amazing. After having to sit out the fall season and most of the spring season with an injury, Burke has opened her UW career with a 5-0 record against Big Ten opponents.

“Caitlin Burke was injured for most of the year and has actually done a phenomenal job, in particular when you consider the fact that she is a freshman,” coach Patti Henderson said. “Her first college match was a Big Ten duel against Indiana, who was the second-ranked conference team in the country, and she just has done a great job.”

When Burke, a Cedarburg, Wis. native, took the court for the first time against Indiana, the No. 32 team in the country at the time, she cruised to a straight sets victory, 6-2, 6-2. She has since continued her impressive run with straight-set wins over opponents from Illinois, Purdue, Iowa and Minnesota.

In a remarkable debut season, Burke has not lost a game since her first college duel. In fact, she has never lost a match in intercollegiate play to this point, posting a perfect 10-0 record.

“I’m playing really well and I am playing really confident,” Burke said. “This is my first time playing [in college], and I am just happy to be playing again.”

Throughout her career Burke has demonstrated impressive physical ability, but her most important attribute has been her mental prowess on the court.

“She is a very savvy player,” Henderson said. “She is a great competitor and she understands the game of tennis, and that means not only tactically, but also emotionally what is going on with her opponent. She has a great feel for what is happening out there on the court, and I think that has allowed her to do such a great job. That has really allowed her to step in and virtually not miss a beat.”

Burke has a much simpler explanation of her mental approach.

“I just try to stay focused,” Burke said.

Burke does not burden herself with the added pressure of playing against more talented competition than she has ever faced before, preferring to keep in perspective the fact that she is still playing the same game that she dominated in high school.

“I am really used to playing tournaments in high school,” Burke said. “I think that college players are a lot different than high school players, obviously. I mean, I started off playing [in the sixth position] here, and I am just trying to move my way up.”

As surprising as it is for any freshman to step in and step up the way Burke has, her outstanding tennis ability became evident during her high school career. Burke had a record of 108-0 at Cedarburg High and won the Division I state championship all four years. She never lost a set in her high school career.

Burke’s freshman campaign is just a taste of things to come, as the Badgers can look forward to three more seasons with the talented newcomer. With fellow freshman standout Kaylan Caiati continuing to improve, Wisconsin’s prospects look bright, as the squad will lose only two seniors next year.

“I think there is a great foundation for this year and future teams to be great — to contend for Big Ten titles, to be at the NCAA tournament, and to be a highly ranked national team,” Henderson said. “I think we definitely do have a great foundation for that. As long as we continue to improve the way we have been improving, I think there are great things ahead.”