Tarek El-Sakka (2023) - Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame

Tarek El-Sakka

Induction:
2023
Class:
1984

Generally regarded as top tennis player in UL history, 39 years after his final collegiate season in the spring of 1984, remains the winningest singles player and winningest player in combined singles and doubles wins in UL history along with being the only player ever with four 20-win seasons in singles … Led then-USL to the most successful four-year run record-wise in school history at 89-37 from 1981-84 (24-5 in 1981, 24-7 in 1982, 13-14 in 1983 and 28-11 in 1984) … The 28 wins in 1984 remains the most team victories in a season in school history, and the 24 wins in both 1981 and 1982 are tied for the second most wins (1983 was the year USL left the Southland Conference and played what amounted to a national schedule against many of the country’s top teams as an independent) … Team won the Southland Conference title in 1981 and 1982 before leaving the league, and El Sakka won the SLC’s No. 1 singles title both seasons … Went 21-5 in 1981, 25-9 in 1982, 23-7 in 1983 and 23-15 in 1984, the latter two years against an independent schedule against several national powers instead of the SLC competition he comminated in his first two years … Career 92-36 singles record is the most in school history, as is his winning percentage (.719) among those with 50 career matches … Also had a 79-29 record in doubles, tied for second for most career doubles victories … His 171 total wins (singles and doubles combined) is the most in school history … Advanced to play in the NCAA national tournament three of his four years, his first as a sophomore in 1982 where he was eventually eliminated by No. 5-ranked Robbie Venter of UCLA … Also qualified for NCAA doubles with Boyd Bryan that year … Represented his native Egypt in Davis Cup competition, and believed to be the only former Ragin’ Cajun ever to participate in the world’s premier team event … Won both singles matches in Egypt’s 5-0 win over Greece in 1982 and had his team’s only singles win in a 4-1 loss to Hungary … Was one of youngest players ever in Davis Cup competition when he started at age 15, and played as a member of Egypt’s Davis Cup team for nearly a decade, beginning in 1977 three years before his arrival at USL .. Took wins over two players ranked No. 1 in the world in juniors, the European Junior Champion and the world’s No. 89-ranked player … Played in Junior Wimbledon and the Orange Bowl World Junior Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1980.