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Ishika Ashar dreamed about participating in the Junior U.S. Open nearly every night for the last year. The blue chip rising junior wrote down her goal and recited it before she drifted off to sleep.

Singles Champion Ishika Ashar & Finalist Nicole Weng
© J. Fred Sidhu

It may have seemed like a long shot to some considering Ashar had never made it past the second round of a Level 1 national event. But Ashar held tight to her belief that her hard work would be rewarded.

Ashar made her dream come true last Saturday by capturing the Girls 16s singles title at the USTA Billie Jean King National Championships. The 17th-seeded Ashar defeated No. 9 Nicole Weng 7-5, 6-2 in the final at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego.

Along with her first career gold ball, Ashar receives a wild card into the Junior US Open girls singles draw later this month.

“It’s insane,” Ashar said. “This is all I have been working towards and now I really get to go to New York and do my best. It feels unreal.”