Herricks’ Walia Wins New York State Singles Title

Angel Walia capped off her high school tennis career in the best way possible as the senior from Herricks captured the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Singles Title at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens on Wednesday morning.

Walia won her fifth consecutive match of the week as she defeated Olivia Dartawan of Niskayna High School 6-2, 7-6(4) in the final, winning Herricks’ first state title in tennis since Liz Jaffee won in 1981.

Just 10 days prior, Walia finished in third-place at the Nassau County Individual Championships, which qualified her for the state tournament, but left her wanting more as she prepared for the final tournament of her high school career.

“This is the perfect way to end it,” Walia said. “I was hoping to win [Nassau] Counties, but when that didn’t happen, I just worked hard the whole week leading up to this, fixed my mentality, and reminded myself that I could do it. During counties, I was making a bunch of errors on both sides, forehand and backhand, so I went back to my training, back to the lab, and I worked on both of them. Today I can say that both my backhand and forehand were pretty good. I’m really happy with my performance.”

Walia’s strong mental game was on full display across the three-day tournament in Queens. She reached the finals without dropping a set, and from 2-all in the first set of Wednesday’s final, she rattled off four consecutive games to move within one set of the state title.

A mid-set break set her up with a 5-3 lead and an opportunity to serve for the championship, even setting up a championship point at 5-3, 40-30. But Dartawan would save that point, and go on to break serve as part of a run of three straight games to go ahead 6-5, ultimately resulting in the set heading into a tiebreaker.

“After I lost that match point, I just went back to the curtain and told myself, ‘Come on, you can do this. It’s just one point’,” she said. “I also did not want to play a third set. A third set can go either way.”

Early on in the tiebreak, it looked as if the final was destined for a third set. Dartawan used her strong groundstrokes to move Walia side-to-side and built a 4-1 advantage in the breaker. However, it was now time for Walia to make her run; she won the final point before the changeover, and after the two switched sides, the Herricks’ senior won the ensuing five points, closing out the match by winning six straight points to seal the title.

“I just fought for every point, moved my feet as well as I could, and played as aggressive as I could,” explained Walia. “At 6-4 in the tiebreaker, I knew I couldn’t let it go, because if I lost that point, she gets two serves and it can go either way. I put everything into that one point and had to play defense. I was just imagining myself on that stage and holding that trophy. When I saw her hit that shot into the net, it was relief.”

The victory puts a bow on a decorated high school career for Walia:

“It means a lot to me because I’ve been playing for six years and this is my last year in high school tennis, so I really wanted to end it on a good note, and I think this is the best note I could possibly go out on.”

Joy Solomon, Herricks’ head coach, has been coaching Walia for the last six years, and gave her player positive affirmation when she came to the bench at 5-6 in the second set.

“With her, it’s point blank, and I told her, ‘You got this. It’s in front of you, you control your own destiny’,” Herricks’ head coach Joy Solomon said. “She regrouped herself, and played with aggression with a capital A.”

Solomon reflected on the six years her and Walia have been together, and the impact she has had on the Herricks’ program.

“She’s just an amazing person. As good as she is on the court, she’s even better off of it,” said Solomon. “She’s caring, kind and loves her fellow teammates. It’s just wonderful having her for six years, it’s bittersweet for me, but she has been a joy to coach and be around.”

Below are the Top 8 Finishers in the 2024 NYSPHSAA Individual Singles Championships:

1) Angel Walia (Herricks)

2) Olivia Dartawan (Niskayna)

3) Leyla Tozin (Brighton)

4) Sakura Hino (Keio Academy of New York)

5) Giana Marks (Scarsdale)

6) Angelina Bravo (Garden City)

7) Anya Konopka (Smithtown East)

8) Syanne Tyson (Williamsville South)