American tennis player (born 2003)
Malaika Rapolu Country (sports) United States Born (2003-04-18 ) April 18, 2003 (age 21) Cedar Park, Texas , U.S.Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) College Texas Prize money US$20,085 Career record 59–32 Career titles 3 ITF Highest ranking No. 557 (December 16, 2024) Current ranking No. 557 (December 16, 2024) Career record 20–15 Career titles 2 ITF Highest ranking No. 855 (June 26, 2023) Current ranking No. 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.
Early life
Rapolu was born in Cedar Park, Texas .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] 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] [ 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
Legend
W50 tournaments (1–0)
W15 tournaments (2–0)
Finals by surface
Hard (3–0)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Opponent
Score
Win
1–0
Oct 2024
ITF Huamantla, Mexico
W15
Hard
Dasha Plekhanova
7–6(3) , 7–5
Win
2–0
Oct 2024
ITF Huamantla, Mexico
W15
Hard
Yuliana Monroy
7–6(3) , 6–2
Win
3–0
Nov 2024
ITF Austin, United States
W50
Hard
Karina Miller
6–4, 6–2
Legend
W15 tournaments (2–2)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–2)
Result
W–L
Date
Tournament
Tier
Surface
Partner
Opponent
Score
Loss
0–1
Jun 2023
ITF San Diego, United States
W15
Hard
Anita Sahdiieva
Kimmi Hance Tian Fangran
6–3, 1–6, [9–11]
Loss
0–2
Jun 2023
ITF San Diego, United States
W15
Hard
Sara Daavettila Katherine Hui
6–7(4) , 4–6
Win
1–2
Jul 2024
ITF Lakewood, United States
W15
Hard
Carolyn Ansari Gabriella Broadfoot
6–4, 2–6, [10–8]
Win
2–2
Oct 2024
ITF Huamantla, Mexico
W15
Hard
Liisa Varul
Claudia Sofía Martínez Solís María Fernanda Navarro Oliva
7–6(4) , 4–6, [10–7]
References
^ a b 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 . ^ a b c 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 . ^ Montalvo, Vicente (October 14, 2020). "Malaika Rapolu opens up on parent-coach dynamic, journey to Texas tennis" . The Daily Texan . Retrieved November 24, 2024 . ^ 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 . ^ Macpherson, Alex (November 18, 2024). "Rankings Watch: Aiava, Dmitruk, Rapolu boosted by ITF titles" . Women's Tennis Association . Retrieved November 24, 2024 .
External links
