Colorado freshman Yukiko Ikedo has started her collegiate tennis career with a win in her first dual match, helping the Buffaloes secure a 7-0 victory over Utah Tech at the end of February. Ikedo, who is from Gifu, Japan, said she has been working to adapt to life and competition in Colorado.
“I adjusted faster than I expected,” Ikedo said. “Since this is my second semester, I feel like I’ve managed it better. Even though it was a little overwhelming at first, the support system at CU has helped me a lot with both academics and athletics. There are also some Japanese restaurants and markets, which makes me happy.”
Ikedo acknowledged that competing at the college level comes with challenges. “We have multiple matches in a day,” she said. “So it’s harder to stay fully committed throughout. In addition, the players’ level is also very high, so I still struggle with these challenges.”
Despite these difficulties, Ikedo has achieved eight singles and five doubles victories this season. Her recent straight-set win against Ilse Ortega of Utah Tech marked an important milestone for her.
“I was happy to get my first win. I was nervous at the beginning of the match and was down in the score, but I was able to come back as the match went on. I hope to win more in the future,” she said.
Head coach Anthony Pham praised Ikedo’s work ethic and growth during her time with the team: “Yuki is a great kid,” Pham said. “She works really hard, she’s one of our best doubles players, and she’s grown a lot this year. Her first win against Utah Tech was a big deal, not just for our team, but for her to be able to feel like she belongs.”
Ikedo noted that language barriers have been another challenge during her transition but credited her teammates for their support.
“Even though I can’t communicate well in English yet, everyone takes care of me and always helps me. Some seniors have the same major as me, so they also help me with my academics, not just tennis. I feel very comfortable being part of the team,” she said.
Coach Pham emphasized that finding players who fit into the team’s culture is important: “Any team is looking for the best player they can find, but what is also important for us is if they can fit into our culture. We want kids who are going to work hard and keep improving, and she fits that to a tee. We’ve been really happy with her, and she will be a major player for us.”
The Buffaloes will begin their home conference matches this weekend against Kansas State and Oklahoma State.
