4th-Grader Courts Tennis Success

Nine-year-old Alexa Glatch, armed with a tennis racket, has earned her bragging rights: The Irvine fourth-grader defeated competitors from the West and then finished third in a national championship.

In October, along with the nation’s other top 16 players, Alexa competed in the United States Tennis Assn.’s “Little Mo” national championships in Dallas. Losing one match in the semifinals led her to a third-place finish.

Other than the tennis she played at the tournament, the Turtle Rock Elementary School student said she enjoyed “staying in the hotels” the most.

Alexa hopes to become a professional tennis player like her idol Steffi Graf. But before that, Alexa said she would like to win at the Little Mo nationals in 1999, her final year of eligibility.

Though she also plays doubles--she and her partner are ranked No. 4 locally in their age division--she said she prefers singles because she likes covering the entire court.

Alexa won her first tournament at 6 and can serve tennis balls at up to 65 mph.