Tennis is one of the most downplayed sports out there. You have movies like Match Point and Wimbledon, not to mention games, such as Wii Sports.

What many people don’t realize is that tennis is actually one of the most cutthroat sports out there, with many players turning professional before they turn 18, such as Martina Hingis or Maria Sharapova, who both won

Wimbledon at age 17.

Meet Jodi Kleiner, Hillsborough’s No. 1 player. Kleiner has been playing tennis ever since she was 6.

“Originally my mom signed me up, and I loved it, so I continued. Ever since then, tennis has been my only sport.”

As a result, Jodi has been No. 1 since her freshman year. The team selects its top player based on a combination of seniority and talent.

Teammate Sarah Pila said, “No one was really surprised when she got No. 1, because she’s definitely our best player. She’s already motivated and I can see her stepping into the captain role eventually.”

Tennis coach Kelly Huff agreed, saying, “It wasn’t even close. She’s just way above everyone else. Tennis is her life, whereas it’s a fun semi-competitive team for everyone else.”

Pila says, “On the court I was trying to channel Jodi, and I thought, ‘What would Jodi do?’”



As with all other sports, tennis has its different levels of competitiveness. Pila says, “We all play to win, and she’s just so disappointed when the team loses.”

“School and tennis are basically my life, but I do all things normal teenagers do, like hanging out with her friends” says Kleiner.

The team is 5-5, after a loss to Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s No. 1 is Jamie Mera, one of the top players in the state.

As for Kleiner’s future, Huff says, “I think that she’ll go on to regional tournaments and hopefully state tournaments. I think she’ll also go to college for tennis.”

Kleiner herself says, “I would like to play tennis in college, so I’m always trying to get better.”

As for advice for future tennis players, Kleiner says it’s possible to teach yourself and that practice is a must to get better.