Malaika Rapolu

Last updated

Malaika Rapolu
Country (sports)Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Born (2003-04-18) April 18, 2003 (age 21)
Cedar Park, Texas, U.S.
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
College Texas
Prize moneyUS$20,085
Singles
Career record59–32
Career titles3 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 557 (December 16, 2024)
Current rankingNo. 557 (December 16, 2024)
Doubles
Career record20–15
Career titles2 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 855 (June 26, 2023)
Current rankingNo. 974 (December 16, 2024)
Last updated on: December 16, 2024.

Malaika Rapolu (born April 18, 2003) is an American professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of No. 557 in singles, achieved on December 16, 2024, and of No. 855 in doubles, achieved on June 26, 2023.

Contents

Early life

Rapolu 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

In April 2020, she committed to play collegiate tennis for the Texas Longhorns. [2] She played her final season in 2024. [1] [4]

Professional career

In 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

Singles: 3 (3 titles)

Legend
W50 tournaments (1–0)
W15 tournaments (2–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–0)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Oct 2024ITF Huamantla, MexicoW15Hard Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dasha Plekhanova 7–6(3), 7–5
Win2–0Oct 2024ITF Huamantla, MexicoW15Hard Flag of Colombia.svg Yuliana Monroy 7–6(3), 6–2
Win3–0Nov 2024ITF Austin, United StatesW50Hard Flag of the United States.svg Karina Miller 6–4, 6–2

Doubles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)

Legend
W15 tournaments (2–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–2)
ResultW–LDateTournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentScore
Loss0–1Jun 2023ITF San Diego, United StatesW15Hard Flag of Ukraine.svg Anita Sahdiieva Flag of the United States.svg Kimmi Hance
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Tian Fangran
6–3, 1–6, [9–11]
Loss0–2Jun 2023ITF San Diego, United StatesW15Hard Flag of Ukraine.svg Anita Sahdiieva Flag of the United States.svg Sara Daavettila
Flag of the United States.svg Katherine Hui
6–7(4), 4–6
Win1–2Jul 2024ITF Lakewood, United StatesW15Hard Flag of Ukraine.svg Anita Sahdiieva Flag of the United States.svg Carolyn Ansari
Flag of South Africa.svg Gabriella Broadfoot
6–4, 2–6, [10–8]
Win2–2Oct 2024ITF Huamantla, MexicoW15Hard Flag of Estonia.svg Liisa Varul Flag of Mexico.svg Claudia Sofía Martínez Solís
Flag of Mexico.svg María Fernanda Navarro Oliva
7–6(4), 4–6, [10–7]

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References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 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.
  3. Montalvo, Vicente (October 14, 2020). "Malaika Rapolu opens up on parent-coach dynamic, journey to Texas tennis". The Daily Texan . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  4. 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.
  5. Macpherson, Alex (November 18, 2024). "Rankings Watch: Aiava, Dmitruk, Rapolu boosted by ITF titles". Women's Tennis Association . Retrieved November 24, 2024.