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Zehra Suko couldn't wait to finish high school and to become a Dawg as quickly as she possibly could.
Suko graduated high school a year before she planned to — in December, 2022. She joined the Dawgs in January of 2023, beginning her lifelong dream of becoming a Dawg.
Suko grew up just across Lake Washington in Kirkland. While her mom earned her PhD from UW and she grew up attending UW tennis matches, Suko knew that attending Washington would always be a dream come true.
Her brother, Nedim, is on the men's tennis team at Washington, and being on campus and in the tennis center with him all the time has been a crazy experience, Suko said.
"Growing up we were very close and have gotten to travel the world together, so being able to attend university together is the craziest thing. We have so much fun," Suko said about her older brother.
HOMETOWN ROOTS
Suko began playing tennis around the age of seven and has been attending Husky tennis matches for as long as she can remember.
She noted that her grandfather got her, and her entire family, into the game of tennis and she has her family to thank for helping her make it to the collegiate level.
"Genuinely, they have taught me so much," Suko said, about her parents. "Coming to this country as refugees and building so many opportunities for my brother and I — everyday I am so grateful that they are my parents. Not a lot of people can go to a university in their hometown and have their whole family there to support them, so it's quite special."
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A CULTURE OF CHARACTER
From growing up in the Washington athletic department footprint to recruiting calls with Head Coach Robin Stephenson during high school, it didn't take much convincing for Suko to know that UW was somewhere she wanted to be.
She competed her first season for the Huskies in 2023 after graduating high school a year early, but then took a redshirt year during her sophom*ore campaign, taking additional time to train and focus on developing her tennis.
With four graduating seniors in 2024 and half the team moving on from Husky tennis, Suko is one of the self-proclaimed "New Era Dawgs" (proclaimed by Suko, Catherine Gagnon, Alexia Jacobs and Erika Matsuda).
Suko looks forward to a new era of Husky tennis, while simultaneously maintaining the groundwork that has been built by past players and the coaching staff.
"This year has been a lot of observing for me," Suko said. "Everything about this year went by so fast but after the season, I realized just how important it is to have a strong team culture. Everyone got along so well this year and truly played every match for each other. We were just one big, happy family. I think that it's definitely inspiring going forward for the New Era Dawgs, just to continue this legacy that the upperclassmen and the coaches have built. Being on the sidelines this year and not playing — there were definitely tough moments — but I think you realize just how grateful you are to be a part of something so incredible."
Taking a year to focus on practicing and not competing afforded Suko the opportunity to focus on herself and learn who she is, on and off the court. Plus, it gave her the chance to have three more years under Coach Stephenson, who is a substantial part of the reason the Kirkland product chose to attend college close to home.
"The amount of support and appreciation and thankfulness I have for these people — Jenn, Dani and Robin — every day they walk in with a smile on their faces," Suko said. "Dealing with eight girls I'm sure can be difficult sometimes but they've done an incredible job at prioritizing the team culture and making sure absolutely everybody's needs are met. Not only focusing on your tennis and your development as a tennis player but off the court and in life."
HEAD COACH THOUGHTS
"Z has an energy and enthusiasm that is infectious," Stephenson said. "Her pride in being a Husky and being part of this team is so special and we are lucky to have her. There are some things you can't teach and her heart is one of those things. She's someone with a high level of motivation and is willing to put in the work. Z is always looking to lift up those around her and that is the ultimate mark of a great teammate.
I am excited for her future as I think she's just beginning to scratch the surface of her abilities. She has big things ahead individually and with the team. I'm excited to see her continue to grow on and off the court. She will continue to be a big part of pushing the program to where we want to go."
ADVICE FROM A NEW ERA DAWG
Suko, entering her third academic year at Washington and second season competing athletically, doesn't quite feel qualified to give out advice but if she could it would be this nugget: don't take anything for granted.
"The amount of gratitude I have walking into such a beautiful facility every single day, being around the best people ever … you can't take those things for granted," Suko said. "And sometimes you do. It goes by so fast. It sounds cliche but truly live every day in the moment and enjoy every practice, every workout, everything you do. In the blink of an eye, the season's over."
LIFE OFF THE TENNIS COURT
If she wasn't a tennis player, Suko would want to be a professional skier, as she grew up going to the slopes with her family. She loves spending her time hanging out with friends and family, going on walks, bike rides, runs and sketching out outfit designs in her free time.
In the classroom, Suko plans to soon apply for the public health major at UW. With three years of collegiate tennis still to go, she'll wait and see if post-college life takes her on a path to professional tennis or a career somewhere in the medical field.
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