Eighth-Grade Tennis Phenom Harper Grove Dominates the Court

At just 14 years old, Veritas Prep eighth grader Harper Grove has already made an impressive mark on the tennis world. From picking up a racket at her local country club at the age of six to becoming a high-ranking junior player in the nation, Harper’s journey has been defined by hard work, discipline, and a love for the game.

“I mainly joined the tennis team at the beginning because I thought it would be a fun experience,” Harper shared. While tennis is largely an individual sport, she found that playing as part of a team deepened her enjoyment and passion for the game. That passion has translated into remarkable achievements on the court.

Nationally, Harper has been ranked 154 in singles and 76 in doubles. In the highly competitive Southwest region—which includes West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona—she finished fifth in singles and second in doubles. Her dominance in middle school tennis is undeniable: in both sixth and seventh grade, she finished first in the number one singles position and was named MVP for three consecutive years.

Recently, Grove set her sights on a three-peat championship title in singles at the Great Hearts Middle School League Tennis Championships, where her skill and competitive spirit paid off with a victory once again.

Her private coach, Luis Ridaura, praises her relentless work ethic and commitment to growth. “Harper is a super hard worker, very disciplined. Her ethics on and off the court are amazing. It’s definitely a privilege to work with her,” he said. Over the past year, they have focused on fine-tuning her consistency and expanding her arsenal of skills.

“Harper is a pretty aggressive player,” explained Ridaura, adding that they are, “…working on developing more weapons like using slice, drop shots, and coming to the net more to make her a complete player.”

While Grove once dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player, she has shifted her focus to playing at the collegiate level. “At first, I wanted to be a pro tennis player, but I realized that would mean homeschooling, and I really enjoy going to school full-time. So now, I’m thinking D1 for sure.”

Her ability to stay composed and positive on the court has been another key to her success. “If you’re playing singles, it’s individual, and you can obviously get very wrapped up in the game and frustrated. So, I would just stay calm and be positive,” she advised.

With a fierce competitive drive at such a young age and a clear goal of playing Division I college tennis, Harper Grove is undoubtedly a player to watch. As she continues to refine her game and chase new milestones, her early achievements are an inspiration to young athletes striving for excellence in both academics and sports.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.