At 15-years-old, Kalista Papadopoulos is quickly making a name for herself in the tennis world. A relative newcomer to competitive tennis, Kalista began taking the sport seriously only after COVID-19 disrupted her involvement in other team sports such as lacrosse and field hockey. What started as casual rallies with her older brother Jordan during the pandemic has now evolved into a dedicated pursuit of excellence on the court.
Kalista and her brother joined JTCC seven months ago in May. In that short time under the mentorship of Coach James Carr, Kalista has taken her game to the next level.
Describing herself as an aggressive baseliner with a growing focus on net play, Kalista credits JTCC for shaping her consistency and confidence. Her hard work recently paid off when she captured her first International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior doubles title in Peru with fellow JTCC High Performance player Reiley Rhodes.
“Winning the title in Peru was an unforgettable experience,” Kalista said. “The repetition we get in our training at JTCC is very helpful. Drills translate directly into match play, which makes new skills we practice feel second nature during competition.”
Looking ahead, Kalista’s goals are clear. She wants to play collegiate tennis at a top school and test her skills in select professional tournaments in the future. With her relentless drive and the support of her JTCC family, the future looks bright for this rising star.
“JTCC feels like home. We all push each other to improve, and that bond makes the hard work worth it,” she stated. “Having my brother here to train with me and challenge me is also special. I’m excited for what is ahead next year.”
