Some people radiate focus and intentionality, and Oak Park High School girls tennis senior captain Anika Amladi is clearly one of them, both on and off the court. At first, Amladi’s journey with tennis was recreational.
“I’ve been playing tennis since I was 10,” Amladi said. “I started to love the sport by playing with my friends and family. I play a lot with my brother as well, outside of school.”
Amladi didn’t always want to play tennis competitively, but after improving consistently, she realized it was a viable option.
“Eventually, I got good enough to the point where I could play in tournaments, and that’s where I kind of realized that, like, yeah, I think I would want to be part of a larger team where I can like play tennis with others as well, who share the same passion for this sport that I do,” Amladi said.
One of the defining features of tennis is the fact that it requires players to simultaneously play with and against their teammates. Adjusting to this can be difficult, especially for those who have never played on a team before.
“Tennis is a little different than some other sports in the sense that, yes, you can be on a team – but really, it’s a very individual sport in some aspects,” Amladi said. “Oftentimes it’s you and your partner on the court, but you have to be the one that makes a shot. It’s not like I can pass the ball to my partner – I have to be the one to make it over the net. So you have to be confident in yourself and your abilities, and even if you’re down, even if you’re making mistakes, you have to tell yourself something that will help you become a better player.”
The mental aspect of tennis is one of the most difficult to master – unlike other sports, a player can’t rely on teammates for support during a singles match. Confidence was something Amladi struggled with when she first began playing.
“I’ve gotten better at it, but especially when I was starting to play tennis, I wasn’t as confident in my ability because I felt like I always needed to be better or that I wasn’t good enough,” Amladi said. “I told myself, I won’t be able to make it to varsity or I won’t be able to win this match. But then I realized over time, if I go in with that mindset, then obviously I’m not going to be able to succeed. I have to play with the intention of, ‘okay, I’m gonna win.’”
Amladi describes herself as a more versatile player, and it serves her well when playing with her doubles partner, fellow senior captain Abigail Li.
“In doubles, you have to be very versatile,” Amladi said. “You have to be good at a lot of things, like, volleys, hitting out of the air and being able to switch sides spontaneously. My doubles partner is Abby. Our strategies complement each other on the court, and we’ve won a lot of matches because of that.”
At the end of the day, tennis is a valuable aspect of Amladi’s life, not just for its physical value but for the bonds it fosters between her loved ones.
“I think [tennis] is a great sport for not only just staying fit but also creating really great friendships and relationships,” Amladi said.
