WEST HARTFORD – Sarah Siolkowski has been trying to make it to the State Open girls tennis tournament finals since she was a freshman.
That year, she lost in the quarterfinals. Two years ago, she lost in the round of 16 to Amity’s Soumya Wijesekera. Last year, there was Wijesekera again, waiting for her in the semifinal and Siolkowski went home one round short of where she wanted to be.
This year, the East Catholic senior finally got there and Wednesday, she had to face last year’s defending champion, Leah Zheng of New Canaan. Siolkowski fought back from an early deficit and had a set point in the second set but couldn’t capitalize and lost to Zheng, 6-3, 7-5, at Hall High School.
“In four years, that’s the best I’ve seen her play,” East Catholic coach Eric Henne said. “That’s a high-level opponent.”
New Canaan’s Leah Zheng returns a shot during the State Open girls tennis championship Wednesday at Hall High School in West Hartford. Zheng defended her title with a 6-3, 7-5 victory. (Photo by Lori Riley)
Michael Lorenzetti of Notre Dame-West Haven won the boys title, 6-2, 6-1, over Thomas Sirichantho of Amity. Kieran Anand and Jonathan Greenspan of Staples won the doubles title, 6-2, 6-2 over Will Neuenfeldt and Milo Russo of Greenwich.
Zheng, a junior, had rolled through the tournament. She said she recently committed to play at Dartmouth and admitted that it was harder to defend her title this year.
“There was so much pressure on me this time and my opponent played super well,” she said. “It was definitely a tougher match. Especially in this weather. It was really hot.”
Up 5-4 in the second set, Siolkowski had set point but double faulted.
“I just think it’s how the points were rolling; it was very tough to stay in the points,” she said. “There were some very long points. I think I just got tired at the end of that game. Today was very humid.
“I slowed the points down for myself so I was able to stay in the rallies for as long as I could and hopefully tire her out.”
Siolkowski often practiced with the boys at East Catholic. “She’ll hit at practice with them and try to make them better,” Henne said. She has been a captain since she was a sophomore.
“She came in freshman year and I was told by girls that knew her, she’s probably as good as our last year’s No. 1,” Henne said. “I saw her hit one time and I was like, ‘No, she’s way better.’
Sarah Siolkowski of East Catholic returns a shot against New Canaan’s Leah Zhang Wednesday at the State Open girls tennis championship at Hall High School in West Hartford. Zheng won, 6-3, 7-5. (Photo by Lori Riley)
“She’s a phenomenal leader. Great player but off the court, she takes care of the uniforms, feeds balls to me at practice, she’s hosting the awards banquet at her house, it’s all behind the scenes stuff – as a person, she’s just great.”
Despite the loss to Zheng – who is a friend – Siolkowski, who will play at Haverford next year, was happy to achieve her goal.
“I’ve been fighting for it since freshman year,” she said. “It meant a lot. I’m so happy I was able to do it for myself but for the school as well.”