SE: Mesquita Returns from World University Games Motivated to Improve
Sep 14, 2017 | Tennis, Sports Extra
When Ines Mesquita first received the email inviting her to represent Portugal in the 2017 Summer World University Games, she took to the Internet to figure out what exactly she had been offered.
"I did not even know that the (World University) Games existed," said Mesquita, a sophomore for K-State tennis. "I had no idea."
Mesquita returned to K-State with a greater appreciation for the event, which takes place every two years and is modeled after the Olympic Games for students who are currently registered at colleges or universities worldwide.
"It was really good, being able to represent my country and university at the same time," she said. "I had really tough matches. Every match is a good opportunity for me to push myself."
Mesquita also left the World University Games, held in Taipei, Taiwan, with a much better idea of where she was at as a player. The 5-foot-4 Wildcat went 1-1 in both singles and mixed doubles, gathering some rare and valuable experience in the summer.
"I think I could've played better," Mesquita said, coming off her first season at K-State in which she went 11-10 in singles and earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week on February 21. "Especially in singles, I think I could've done more but that's why I practice. That's why I'm here, so I can get better."
Mesquita swept her first singles match (6-0, 6-0) against Lebanon's Bruna Ata El Khoury but she said she learned more from her second match in Taiwan. Against France's Irina Ramialison — a 26-year-old with 154 career victories between the ATP/WTA and ITF Pro Circuit main draw — Mesquita lost in two sets (3-6, 2-6) but gained some motivation in the process.
"I felt like I need to push myself more, every day during practices so I can get there," Mesquita said. "I think I can. I don't think I'm that far away from her. I think if I push myself every day during practices and matches I can get there."
In mixed doubles, Mesquita was paired up with Nuno Borges, a 20-year-old Portugal native entering his junior season at Mississippi State. The two pulled out a tight victory (6-4, 4-6, 10-6) against Sweden's duo of Maria Jespersen and Esben Hess-Olesen to start. The Portuguese duo's run together ended in the next round (4-6, 1-6) to Russia's Anastasia Pivovarova and Richard Muzaev, who finished fifth overall.
"It was a really good experience because he's really good," Mesquita said of playing mixed doubles with Borges, the SEC Player of the Year last season. "I had only played it twice before, and I was like 12 and 15, and it was so different because (in Taiwan), the level was really good. But it was easy because my partner, he's really good and he's a really nice guy, so it was fun."
Outside of tennis, Mesquita said she enjoyed visiting Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest towers at 1,667 feet, as well as checking out one of the city's surrounding mountaintop views.
What she will remember most, however, was the opportunity to interact with athletes of different sports from all over the world.
"Just meeting people, overall, was the best part," she said. "Meeting other Portuguese people from other sports that were all there for the same reason, I think it was really good."
While K-State added five newcomers, including four freshmen, to this season's roster, Mesquita said it did not take many practices to figure out that the potential of this team is high.
"We have a new team and I think that's really good because I can see that they're here to work and they want to do something this year. I really feel like we can do something this year," Mesquita said, as K-State opens up the fall schedule at the Mizzou Invite on September 21-23 and at the Stillwater ITF on September 23-24. "I feel like in practices we push it to 100 percent. I'm expecting good stuff this year."
Because of the team's youth, Mesquita, a sophomore who joined the team in January, said she feels much more like a veteran and must bring some leadership.
"I feel like that since they're just starting now, I know what they're going through and I need to be there just to support them because I know it's hard," she said of K-State's freshmen, which earlier this summer were slotted as the 14th-best recruiting class in the country by the Tennis Recruiting Network. "They just need trust the process, like Coach (Danielle Steinberg) says, and know that we are here for each other."
"I did not even know that the (World University) Games existed," said Mesquita, a sophomore for K-State tennis. "I had no idea."
Mesquita returned to K-State with a greater appreciation for the event, which takes place every two years and is modeled after the Olympic Games for students who are currently registered at colleges or universities worldwide.
"It was really good, being able to represent my country and university at the same time," she said. "I had really tough matches. Every match is a good opportunity for me to push myself."
Mesquita also left the World University Games, held in Taipei, Taiwan, with a much better idea of where she was at as a player. The 5-foot-4 Wildcat went 1-1 in both singles and mixed doubles, gathering some rare and valuable experience in the summer.
"I think I could've played better," Mesquita said, coming off her first season at K-State in which she went 11-10 in singles and earned Big 12 Freshman of the Week on February 21. "Especially in singles, I think I could've done more but that's why I practice. That's why I'm here, so I can get better."
Mesquita swept her first singles match (6-0, 6-0) against Lebanon's Bruna Ata El Khoury but she said she learned more from her second match in Taiwan. Against France's Irina Ramialison — a 26-year-old with 154 career victories between the ATP/WTA and ITF Pro Circuit main draw — Mesquita lost in two sets (3-6, 2-6) but gained some motivation in the process.
"I felt like I need to push myself more, every day during practices so I can get there," Mesquita said. "I think I can. I don't think I'm that far away from her. I think if I push myself every day during practices and matches I can get there."
In mixed doubles, Mesquita was paired up with Nuno Borges, a 20-year-old Portugal native entering his junior season at Mississippi State. The two pulled out a tight victory (6-4, 4-6, 10-6) against Sweden's duo of Maria Jespersen and Esben Hess-Olesen to start. The Portuguese duo's run together ended in the next round (4-6, 1-6) to Russia's Anastasia Pivovarova and Richard Muzaev, who finished fifth overall.
"It was a really good experience because he's really good," Mesquita said of playing mixed doubles with Borges, the SEC Player of the Year last season. "I had only played it twice before, and I was like 12 and 15, and it was so different because (in Taiwan), the level was really good. But it was easy because my partner, he's really good and he's a really nice guy, so it was fun."
Outside of tennis, Mesquita said she enjoyed visiting Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest towers at 1,667 feet, as well as checking out one of the city's surrounding mountaintop views.
What she will remember most, however, was the opportunity to interact with athletes of different sports from all over the world.
"Just meeting people, overall, was the best part," she said. "Meeting other Portuguese people from other sports that were all there for the same reason, I think it was really good."
While K-State added five newcomers, including four freshmen, to this season's roster, Mesquita said it did not take many practices to figure out that the potential of this team is high.
"We have a new team and I think that's really good because I can see that they're here to work and they want to do something this year. I really feel like we can do something this year," Mesquita said, as K-State opens up the fall schedule at the Mizzou Invite on September 21-23 and at the Stillwater ITF on September 23-24. "I feel like in practices we push it to 100 percent. I'm expecting good stuff this year."
Because of the team's youth, Mesquita, a sophomore who joined the team in January, said she feels much more like a veteran and must bring some leadership.
"I feel like that since they're just starting now, I know what they're going through and I need to be there just to support them because I know it's hard," she said of K-State's freshmen, which earlier this summer were slotted as the 14th-best recruiting class in the country by the Tennis Recruiting Network. "They just need trust the process, like Coach (Danielle Steinberg) says, and know that we are here for each other."
Players Mentioned
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