Melisa Ates Upsets No. 2 Seed at ITA Northwest Regionals

STANFORD, Calif. – Senior Melisa Ates captured the biggest win of her career as she upended the tournament's No. 2 seed Saturday during the second day of play at the 2019 ITA Northwest Regionals at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

In her Round of 32 match Saturday morning, Ates jumped out quick against California's Julia Rosenqvist, seeded No. 2 and ranked No. 24 nationally. The Cougar senior rode a pair of service breaks to a 6-2 first set. In the second, she captured another huge break of serve at 4-4 then held on, winning the last three games for the 6-2, 6-4 win and a berth in the Round of 16. Facing Washington's Katarina Kopcalic, Ates came up just short, falling 6-4, 7-5.

Sophomore Savanna Ly-Nguyen came up on the wrong side of her Round of 32 match, falling 7-5, 6-2 to Gonzaga's Kate Ketels.

In doubles action, Ates and Hikaru Sato battled but came up short, falling to the No. 2 seed from Washington, Natsuho Arakawa and Vanessa Wong, 8-5, in the second round.

In consolation singles matches, sophomore Hikaru Sato had little trouble with Washington's Ashley Chang, winning 6-1, 6-2. Freshman Pang Jittakoat lost a tough three-setter, falling to USF's Emily Maxfield, 7-5, 3-6,1-0 (10-8).

The Cougars are next in action when they participate in the 2019 Redbird Duals, Oct. 26-27 in Normal, Ill.

WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
2019 ITA Northwest Regionals
Oct. 18-21, 2019
Stanford, Calif.

DOUBLES
Second Round
Natsuho Arakawa/Vanessa Wong (Wash.) def. Melisa Ates/Hikaru Sato (WSU), 8-5

SINGLES
Round of 32
Melisa Ates (WSU) def. No. 2 Julia Rosenqvist (Cal), 6-2, 6-4
Kate Ketels (Gonz.) def. Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) 7-5, 6-2

Round of 16
Katarina Kopcilic (Wash.) def. Melisa Ates (WSU) 6-4, 7-5

Consolation Matches
Hikaru Sato (WSU) def. Ashley Chang (Wash.) 6-1, 6-2
Emily Maxfield (USF) def. Pang Jittakoat (WSU) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (8)

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Melisa Ates

Pang Jittakoat

Savanna Ly-Nguyen

Hikaru Sato

Washington State University Athletics