Malaika Rapolu (born April 18, 2003) is an American professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of No. 564 in singles, achieved on November 18, 2024, and of No. 855 in doubles, achieved on June 26, 2023.
Country (sports) | United States |
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Born | Cedar Park, Texas, U.S. | April 18, 2003
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
College | Texas |
Prize money | US$ 20,085 |
Singles | |
Career record | 59–32 |
Highest ranking | No. 564 (November 18, 2024) |
Current ranking | No. 564 (November 18, 2024) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 20–15 |
Highest ranking | No. 976 (November 18, 2024) |
Current ranking | No. 855 (June 26, 2023) |
Last updated on: November 18, 2024. |
Early life
editRapolu was born in Cedar Park, Texas.[1][2] She began playing tennis at the age of seven, coached by her father, Madhuker.[3] She attended Round Rock High School and was later homeschooled.[2]
College career
editIn April 2020, she committed to play collegiate tennis for the Texas Longhorns.[2] She played her final season in 2024.[1][4]
Professional career
editIn October 2024, she won back-to-back $15k titles in Huamantla. The following month, she won the $40k H-E-B Women's Pro Tennis Open in Austin as a wildcard. With her title in Austin, she rose 245 places in the WTA rankings to a career-high of No. 564 on November 18, 2024.[5]
ITF Circuit finals
editSingles: 3 (3 titles, 0 runner-ups)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Win | 1–0 | Oct 2024 | ITF Huamantla, Mexico | W15 | Hard | Dasha Plekhanova | 7–6(3), 7–5 |
Win | 2–0 | Oct 2024 | ITF Huamantla, Mexico | W15 | Hard | Yuliana Monroy | 7–6(3), 6–2 |
Win | 3–0 | Nov 2024 | ITF Austin, U.S. | W50 | Hard | Karina Miller | 6–4, 6–2 |
Doubles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)
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Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponent | Score |
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Loss | 0–1 | Jun 2023 | ITF San Diego, U.S. | W15 | Hard | Anita Sahdiieva | Kimmi Hance Tian Fangran |
6–3, 1–6, [9–11] |
Loss | 0–2 | Jun 2023 | ITF San Diego, U.S. | W15 | Hard | Anita Sahdiieva | Sara Daavettila Katherine Hui |
6–7(4), 4–6 |
Win | 1–2 | Jul 2024 | ITF Lakewood, U.S. | W15 | Hard | Anita Sahdiieva | Carolyn Ansari Gabriella Broadfoot |
6–4, 2–6, [10–8] |
Win | 2–2 | Oct 2024 | ITF Huamantla, Mexico | W15 | Hard | Liisa Varul | Claudia Sofía Martínez Solís María Fernanda Navarro Oliva |
7–6(4), 4–6, [10–7] |
References
edit- ^ a b Jones, Thomas (May 3, 2024). "Texas senior Malaika Rapolu saving best for last as Longhorns open NCAA tennis postseason". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c Barker, Jeffrey (May 22, 2020). "That's a Rap-Olu: Cedar Park star joins UT tennis a year early". KEYE-TV. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Montalvo, Vicente (October 14, 2020). "Malaika Rapolu opens up on parent-coach dynamic, journey to Texas tennis". The Daily Texan. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Ambrose, Anna (April 11, 2024). "Texas women's tennis senior Malaika Rapolu combines experience, ferocity to blossom in final season". The Daily Texan. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Macpherson, Alex (November 18, 2024). "Rankings Watch: Aiava, Dmitruk, Rapolu boosted by ITF titles". Women's Tennis Association. Retrieved November 24, 2024.