GLENDALE – The last time Yash Parikh was across the net from Carlos Hassey in the state singles tournament, Parikh was looking to record back-to-back championships when Hassey spoiled that effort, defeating the Salpointe Catholic then-junior in straight sets in the 2015 semifinals before going on to win the title.
Fast forward to Saturday’s 2016 finals match, with the roles reversed and Hassey now looking to repeat as champion. Parikh’s only option was to return the favor.
Parikh, the top seed in Division II once again as a senior, held on to take the first set 7-5 over Hassey before dominating the second set 6-1 to claim his second career title at Paseo Racquet Center.
Despite anticipating a potential rematch with the second-seeded Hassey, a junior from Surprise Shadow Ridge, Parikh succeeded in blocking out any possible distraction, surrendering just two games in five matches leading up to the final.
He maintained that even keel against Hassey, though he did admit afterward to reserving a small part of his motivation for memories of last year’s loss.
“Maybe a little bit,” he said with a smile. “But I was pretty focused and I just wanted to play well. And I got it done.”
Parikh has several college offers but said he may take a “gap year” to work on his game and assess his athletic and academic futures. He allowed Hassey to come back from traiing 5-2 in the first set, but responded to close him out 7-5.
Then, riding a wave built on his own momentum along with Hassey’s frustration, Parikh thundered to victory, allowing Hassey just one game in the second set.
“He plays a very aggressive game, so he can go on streaks,” Parikh said of his opponent. “I just focused on covering the court and trying to keep the ball deep.”
Catalina Foothills’ Abby Watson also got her second career championship Saturday, though as a sophomore, she’ll have the chance to add two more.
After winning the Division II doubles title with partner Kirtana Bhat last season, this year Watson teamed up with fellow sophomore Halle Zadro to capture the crown.
The second-seeded pair of Watson and Zadro took down the tournament’s top seed in the final, winning 6-2, 7-5 over Alexandra Lehman and Alyssa Heid of Scottsdale Notre Dame.
Rincon/University’s Lindsey Pesqueira was another Southern Arizona sophomore knocking off a No. 1 seed in a final on Saturday, as the second-seeded Pesqueira defeated Alexa Cooke of Scottsdale Notre Dame by a 6-2, 6-4 score.
Pesqueira said she rediscovered her aggressiveness at times in the match against Cooke, though after three missed opportunities to close the match, she had to take a breath and dial that aggressiveness down to record one more winner.
“I was overthinking it a little,” she said. “After the third match point I was like, OK, I’m not going to try to overpower everything. Just stick with the game plan, and it’ll work.”
Also claiming a title Saturday were Brandi Swenson and Carly Caylor of The Gregory School, who won the Division III girls doubles championship with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Thatcher’s Hailey Greer and Brooklyn Angle.
