Local tennis star rises to No. 1 in national rankings following tournament win

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Plenty of local tennis players know the thrill of being ranked No. 1 in their club or high school conference — but what about being declared the best in the country?

That was recently the reality for Staten Island native and junior tennis standout Anna Kapanadze, who was recently crowned the nation’s top 14U player, fueled in large part by her victory at the USTA National Indoor Hardcourt Championship in Toledo, Ohio last month.

Kapanadze, who began playing at age five at the College of Staten Island Community Tennis Center, described each match of the tournament as “a battle,” crediting her opponents with pushing her to play highly intelligent sets.

“All the girls were really good, and I had to problem-solve well in every match. I thought I played a really solid tournament from the quarterfinals on. I beat three girls who were all inside the top 20 in the nation, and those matches were really tough — especially the final. The final (versus Olivia Lin of Massachusetts) was a battle,” she began.

“In the first set, she was returning a lot of balls, and it was a grind. Even though I lost the first set, I felt like I locked in during the next two sets, got more in the zone, strategized and problem-solved well, and switched up my game a little bit.”

The phenom, who takes online high school courses after attending PS 23 and St. Patrick’s in Richmondtown, described the moment she finished the match — knowing she was now the nation’s top youth talent — as special, but added that she believes the real work has only just begun.

“It feels like a big accomplishment because ever since I was little, I envisioned myself in this position. But now what? The main focus now is remaining number one, and that’s going to be tougher. It’s tough to get there, but it’s tougher to stay,” she wisely said.

Her sage insights on the importance of sustaining hard work to remain at the top stem from the rigorous practice schedules she endures as a member of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, though much of her determination comes from within.

“I think self-drive is really important, and that’s what helped me handle strict schedules. Every time I go out to practice, I want to get better,” she shared.

“I want to work on something and improve at it. That mindset helped me through strict schedules and hard training days. Knowing I was going to practice to get better made it easier — practice might be hard, but at least I’m improving at something.”

Given that tennis is such an individual sport, Kapanadze shared that while it can feel isolating on the court, she knows her support system has been there with her, backing her with every swing of the racket.

“I’d definitely say my parents are a big part of my support system. They take me to tournaments, feed me, and cheer me on. They’re my biggest supporters. I also feel like my friends have also supported me throughout this journey as well, with encouraging words and constant support,” she began.

“Now that I’m at the McEnroe Academy, I also have a team of coaches supporting me. At a recent tournament, my fitness coach and another coach helping other academy players were there as well. Having this team makes a big difference, because tennis is such an individual sport — it’s tough being alone on the court, and having encouragement really helps.”

In addition to the remarkable competition she’s faced, Kapanadze said one of the best parts of playing at a high level has been the chance to travel, including the opportunity to compete in international matches.

“I feel honored that I’m able to travel all across the country. Now I’m even going to be able to travel across the world —I’m going to France in January for another tournament called Les Petits As. It feels amazing to be able to travel at the young age of 13,” she shared.

Kapanadze has already experienced a taste of the pro tennis world, mainly through her sponsorship with Yonex, which provides all her gear, and the youngster is already focused on pursuing a professional tennis career.

“I’m trying to play more ITF [International Tennis Federation] tournaments, where I compete against kids from around the world instead of just across the country. I want to gain that experience at a higher level, and eventually, I’m planning to turn pro right away rather than go to college,” she concluded.