HUSKY SPOTLIGHT: MELISSA SAKAR
May 31, 2024 | Women's Tennis
Grateful.
When asked about UW … when asked about her tennis career as a whole … when asked about her teammates, "grateful" was the word Melissa Sakar returned to again and again.
When Head Coach Robin Stephenson asked Sakar on her visit which feeling she experiences the most in life: grateful.
After earning her Bachelor's degree from Columbia, Sakar moved across the country to use her last two years of eligibility at Washington.
Going from life in New York City, where the hustle and bustle brought on a feeling of needing to "one-up" those around her, to Seattle, which Sakar described as "very west coast vibes," was quite the transition.
Being around a team and a coaching staff who were caring and supportive from day one didn't mean Sakar was receptive to the care and support from the get-go.
Sakar recalled a conversation on her official visit to UW with a senior at the time, Vanessa Wong, that stuck out to her during the transfer process.
She [Vanessa] and the coaches were asking deep, introspective questions — they really wanted to get to know me and how my experiences have shaped who I am," Sakar said. "That stuck with me. I haven't really been in an environment like that, like what do you think? I haven't had that question or that vibe in a tennis setting."
It wasn't until this past season, her second at Washington, that Sakar felt like she fully let her guard down around the team.
Her first season in Seattle she spent with her focus primarily on improving her tennis and keeping up with the increase in level and intensity that playing for a Pac-12 school brought, Sakar said.
She realized she didn't have to choose just one — she could play her best tennis and embrace the vulnerability of the team all at once.
"I trained really hard between last year and this year. I knew what I needed to work on. I came back having improved a lot more and felt more at peace with my tennis, knowing I had done all that I could have done," Sakar said. "Once I had that internal peace with myself I stopped projecting my own fears onto the coaches and embraced the process."
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JUST A DAWG BEIN' A DAWG
Sakar stopped for a moment to reflect on some of her favorite memories as a Husky the past two seasons before confidently arriving at her favorite one: playing USC and UCLA at home last season.
"Clinching against UCLA, that was big," Sakar said. "In my mind, UCLA was such a big school — untouchable. To be able to clinch against them was huge and that whole weekend was super special. It showed me that I belonged and helped settle that feeling for me."
HEAD COACH THOUGHTS
"Mel has elevated the program in so many ways," Head Coach Robin Stephenson said. "She's often the first one at practice and the last one to leave. Her commitment to get the absolute most out of herself and to maximize her tennis experience here has been inspiring to be part of. I was able to witness a huge amount of growth in only two years as a person and as a tennis player. Mel is so caring and kind and has a huge heart for those around her and couples that with being one of the fiercest competitors and toughest people I've coached. I am so grateful that she chose UW for her extra years of eligibility and it was such a joy to be part of her journey. It has been amazing to see her be in the national rankings her last year in singles and doubles and to have the highest winning percentage on the team and to help lead this team to two very successful team seasons. No matter what she does, she's going to crush it. We are all so proud of her for who she is and how she does things."
ADVICE FROM THE VET
Let the tennis speak for itself.
"One thing I've reflected on is the importance of constantly challenging yourself," Sakar said, when asked what advice she'd give to younger college tennis players. "Don't be complacent if you're playing at a certain part of the lineup. Do the best you can at that spot and be grateful that you have the opportunity to represent the team in that way, but always challenge yourself. Always try to keep improving and don't be paralyzed by the fear of losing your position."
This advice is something Sakar wishes she had taken as she progressed through her college career, but highlight is 20/20.
"A powerful thing is to be able to look back and acknowledge the things you didn't do so well," Sakar said. "One thing I didn't do as much and wish I had was challenge myself more. That's why I would give freshmen advice to continue to push yourself.
"I think I always tried to do the best of my ability, but when I first got to Columbia, I was just really grateful to be there and to have the opportunity. The class I was coming in with at Columbia was very talented and the team I was joining was very talented. When I got in the lineup to play 3/4, I was just so happy to be considered."
With six years of college tennis under her belt, Sakar is (over)qualified to hand out tips and tricks for navigating the college tennis world. Now that her playing days are over and the identity crisis is setting is, as she put it, finding out who she is without tennis is an exciting new chapter.
"Tennis has taught me what I'm capable of," Sakar said. "Understanding that tennis has afforded me an opportunity that my parents, and me — coming from the place that I came from, I would have never thought I could touch."
Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sakar is grateful for the opportunities she's received over the years through the sport of tennis. Tennis has gotten her places she would have never dreamed of being able to get to.
Sakar acknowledges the upward mobility that tennis provided her when financial mobility was lacking, and that's all thanks to her parents and connections in the tennis space that allowed to to showcase what she could do.
"Recognizing that and understanding that going forward, doing everything I can to capitalize on the opportunities the sport has given me and the platform I'm starting at 23 years old., is a privilege that I'm sure even the most well-endowed people wish they had," Sakar said.
Sakar plans to take her own advice — to constantly challenge yourself — with her on her path after college tennis.
"Going forward in whatever I do, I want to make sure I'm in a position where I'm challenging myself," Sakar said. "If I'm the smartest person in the room then I'm in the wrong room."
A FUTURE IN LAW
Sakar will be graduating in June with a Master's degree in International Relations from Washington. She plans on taking a short break from school to travel and relax before she begins studying for the LSAT and locking down a law school.
Players Mentioned
