Cako takes runner-up honors at ITA All-American Championships
Arizona State sophomore women’s tennis player Jacqueline Cako finished the ITA All-American Championships as the tournament runner-up in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday.
Cako fell in a hard-fought three-set match to second-ranked Allie Will of Florida in the tournament finals. Will defeated Cako, 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 to take the ITA All-American Championship victory.
With her appearance in the semifinals, Cako automatically qualifies for a spot in the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, Nov. 3-6 in Flushing, N.Y.
Cako’s road to the ITA All-American Championship finals was marked by a huge singles victory in the quarterfinals over reigning NCAA singles champion and No. 1-ranked Jana Juricova of California. Cako defeated the top-ranked Golden Bear, 7-6, 7-6 in a two-set battle.
The Sun Devil sophomore qualified for the ITA/Riviera All-American Championships by earning a top-25 ITA preseason singles ranking. Cako began the season ranked 11th in the nation.
Cako is the second Sun Devil to make the ITA All-American Championship finals since the tournament’s inception in 1982. In 2008, ASU’s Kelcy McKenna defeated Fani Chifchieva of Auburn, 6-3, 6-4 to take the tournament title.
ITA/Riviera Women's All-American Championships
Pacific Palisades, Calif. - Riviera Tennis Club
Friday, October 7, 2011
Singles
Main Draw – Round of 32
No. 11 Jacqueline Cako (Arizona State) def. Joanna Mather (Florida), 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Main Draw - Round of 16
No. 11 Jacqueline Cako (Arizona State) def. No. 14 Aeriel Ellis (Texas), 6-3, 7-5
Main Draw - Quarterfinals
No. 11 Jacqueline Cako (Arizona State) def. No. 1 Jana Juricova (California), 7-6, 7-6
Main Draw – Semifinals
No. 11 Jacqueline Cako (Arizona State) def. No. 35 Petra Niedermayerova (Kansas State), 6-4, 7-5
Main Draw – Finals
No. 2 Allie Will (Florida) def. No. 11 Jacqueline Cako (Arizona State), 7-6, 1-6, 6-3