Now a No. 2 singles player on the girls’ varsity tennis team, sophomore Kalyani Narayan is not an easy opponent to beat. After nine years and countless hours spent at clinics and private lessons, Narayan is a talented player with the potential to play at the college level. However, her tennis career did not exactly start that way.
When Narayan picked up her first tennis racket, she loathed going to practice. Tennis wasn’t exactly her idea of a sport that she wanted to play.
“My parents made me start tennis because they liked to see me go out and play a sport rather than sit at home,” Narayan said. “I hated it at first.”
Soon after, she started playing competitive tennis because her parents realized the potential she had. Currently, she is ranked 20th in the Northern California Girls’ 16 division.
“Playing in tournaments is very stressful sometimes. It’s not only a physical sport, but it also requires tough mentality, which I learned to have over the years,” Narayan said.
Last year, Narayan played as No. 4 singles on the school team. This season, playing a higher position, the matches have become tougher for her, but according to No. 3 singles Nikki Bedekar, Narayan always manages to pull through while supporting and cheering on her teammates.
“Kalyani is a very lively person to be around. She knows how to make people laugh and does her best to keep the team’s spirits up,” Bedekar said.
Although there are times when Narayan has to move up to play No. 1 singles, she is not intimidated.
“Playing one or two singles is very stressful, but I know the team has my back,” she said. “As long as I step up my game, I know I can do well.”
The No. 1 singles position, currently played by senior Crystal Yen, is a tough spot to step up to. Since Yen is one of the best players in the state, Narayan looks up to her as a role model.
“After my matches, Crystal will always be there to lecture me. If I play badly, she scolds me like my parents,” Narayan said.
For the school team, Narayan hopes that it “will win CCS and NorCals, but we will see what happens.”
First, the 11-2 (7-1 in league) girls need to beat the undefeated Monta Vista on Oct. 25.
“I played well against Monta Vista [last time] because I like the mood that goes around when we are playing a competitive team,” she said.
Although the team lost 4-3 to the Matadors on Sept. 29, Narayan is confident that the team will continue improving throughout the season to defeat the rival school next time, as long as the girls keep trying hard and maintain a positive attitude.