On Nov. 9, junior Suha Ibrahim won the 2025 WACC Singles Tournament, becoming the first Encinal tennis player to take the title since Sofia Layzer’s 2023 crown. Ibrahim defeated San Leandro’s Aileen Dang 6–4, 7–6 (15–13) in the final.
The singles star’s dedication to tennis over the past year showed, as the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Ibrahim went 3–0 across two days of play.
Having finished second in the 2024 tournament, Ibrahim tried to stay loose in preparation for this year.
“My mindset was that even if I lose or win, it’s fine as long as I try my best,” Ibrahim said.
The final match was a thriller, with the second set going to tiebreak.
Ibrahim said she executed one of her best plays of the season, calling it one of her most strategic moves.
“We wanted a tiebreak, and I was making the tiebreak go as long as possible,” she said, “because I didn’t want to go to the third set.”
Her determination to turn the match in her favor made the win especially meaningful. In addition to winning the tournament, Ibrahim was named WACC Player of the Year. She went 11-6 (7-0) in all singles matches this season.
The victory brought her one step closer to her larger goal of qualifying for California’s statewide tournament, one of the biggest competitions for high school athletes.
“My next goal is to win NCS,” Ibrahim said. “Or at least go far.”
Ibrahim drew a tough first-round matchup against the North Coast Section’s (NCS) No. 1 seed, University’s Piperi Lim, and lost 6–1, 6–1. She hopes to return to NCS in the future.
A three-sport athlete, Ibrahim only started playing competitive tennis two years ago. Leading up to her matches, Ibrahim said she practiced three days a week one-on-one with her coach. When she wasn’t on the court, she watched professional matches.
“I watched a lot of tennis games,” Ibrahim said. “Trying to analyze what they would do.”
Even at home, Ibrahim’s dedication to tennis wasn’t just about winning. She often played casually with her brother.
“I play with my brother,” she said. “We just play for fun.”
Although Ibrahim excels in both soccer and badminton, it’s on the tennis courts where she continues to make her name.
