Published: September 15, 2008 08:52 pm      

Cako big hit in Bluegrass trip

17-year-old wins Wild Card tournament

BELLEFONTE — Jacqueline Cako of Brier, Wash., is a tennis player on the move.

Ranked third nationally in the Girls 18, Cako had a week to remember in Kentucky.

The 17-year-old reached the finals of an international junior tournament in Lexington, where she knocked off the world’s No. 11 player in her age group and also defeated U.S. rival Lauren Embree for the first time.

Following the title match Saturday morning, Cako jumped in a car and headed to Ashland to compete in a Wild Card Tournament for the $50,000 Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Tennis Classic.

After pulling into Bellefonte Country Club, Cako got out of the vehicle in time for her first match and never stopped winning.

Sunday afternoon, a mentally tough and physically fit Cako beat Sofia Melikishvili of the Republic of Georgia 6-2, 6-4 in a windy championship match to earn the main draw wild card.

“I’ve been playing well all week,’’ Cako said. “I had some big wins in Lexington. Then to come here and do this, it’s fantastic.’’

Opportunities are rare for junior players to secure a main draw wild card for $50,000-level tournaments, so Cako savored the moment. The fifth annual OLBH Tennis Classic is next week at the Ashland Tennis Center.

“I’m excited,’’ she said. “It’s a big event. It will only be my third pro tournament.’’

Cako reached the semifinals of a $10,000 tournament in Wichita, Kan., during June after competing in a similar event the previous month in South Carolina.

Against Melikishvili, Cako finished each set with a flourish. She overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first set and rallied after being down 4-1 in the second.

“It was setting 4-1 and I was making errors, shanking balls and she hit some good balls for winners,’’ Cako said. “I focused in on making clean contact and moving the ball around. All of a sudden, I was serving for the match at 5-4.’’

On several occasions, gusts caused the players to pause before serving. Cako could only recall being involved in a couple of other matches with as much wind.

“This is definitely up there on the list,’’ she said. “I don’t think there were leaves flying around anywhere like today.’’

Cako showed no signs of fatigue despite having played two or three matches per day all week.

Sunday morning, she defeated Marshall University sophomore Isabell Raich 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals. In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Cako rolled past former University of Kentucky player Sarah Foster 6-0, 6-0.

Melikishvili, 21, advanced to the finals with straight-set wins over Marshall senior Kellie Schmitt and MU junior Thaddea Lock.

Melikishvili, who will receive a wild card into the qualifier, came to Ashland two years ago and reached the second round of the qualifier. She was ranked as high as 259th in the world in 2006 and is on the comeback trail after being injured.

Housing needed

The OLBH Tennis Classic is seeking housing for players and officials during tournament week, Sept. 21-28. If interested, contact housing chair person Sharla Freeman at (606) 325-8519.

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.