Trinity Prep senior makes history in her final tennis match

WINTER PARK, Fla. — The tennis court is Laziza Talipova’s happy place. 

During her junior year at Trinity Prep, she won the American Tennis Association National Championship in the Girls’ 16 division. 

“I really enjoyed the tournament, I played a lot of good tennis, I played in a lot of close matches,” Talipova explains. “It just shows how hard work comes into play.”

Laziza was at the top of the rollercoaster, but it would quickly go down. 

After the tournament, she had right ankle surgery that would sideline her for a couple of months. 

“I just had to remember, I can do this, I’ve done it before,” Talipova said about the recovery process. “I can come back. I’ve seen other athletes come back from worse… My recovery was only a short couple of months and after that I never looked back.”

She returned to the court like she had never left. 

Talipova made history in her senior season. She was the first Trinity Prep female tennis player to make a state final since 1983. 

She also committed to play tennis at George Washington University, the same school where her brother, Laziz, plays basketball. 

“I love my brother so much, he’s such a huge inspiration for me playing tennis,” said Talipova, after watching a congratulation video her brother made for her. “He does support me with everything I do. Just him welcoming me to George Washginton. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Laziza hopes to one day become a pro tennis player.

She knows to get there it’s going to take hard work and great family support.