Malaika Rapolu| Country (sports) | .png) United States |
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| Born | (2003-04-18) April 18, 2003
Cedar Park, Texas, US |
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| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
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| College | Texas |
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| Prize money | US$27,490 |
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| Career record | 68–42 |
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| Career titles | 3 ITF |
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| Highest ranking | No. 480 (June 9, 2025) |
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| Current ranking | No. 490 (July 28, 2025) |
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| Career record | 23–19 |
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| Career titles | 2 ITF |
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| Highest ranking | No. 798 (May 5, 2025) |
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| Current ranking | No. 988 (July 28, 2025) |
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| Last updated on: July 28, 2025. |
Malaika Rapolu (born April 18, 2003) is an American professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of No. 480 in singles, achieved on June 9, 2025, and of No. 798 in doubles, achieved on May 5, 2025.
Early life
Rapolu was born in Cedar Park, Texas.[1][2] She began playing tennis at the age of seven, coached by her father, Madhuker.[3] She attended 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] She played her final season in 2024.[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]
In February 2025, she made her WTA Tour debut as a wildcard at the ATX Open, but lost in the first round to Nuria Párrizas Díaz.[6][7]
ITF Circuit finals
Singles: 4 (3 titles, 1 runner-up)
| Legend
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| W50 tournaments (1–0)
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| W15 tournaments (2–1)
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| Finals by surface
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| Hard (3–1)
|
|
| Result
|
W–L
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Tier
|
Surface
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
| Win
|
1–0
|
Oct 2024
|
ITF Huamantla, Mexico
|
W15
|
Hard
|
.svg.png) 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
|
| Loss
|
3–1
|
Mar 2025
|
ITF Trois-Rivières, Canada
|
W15
|
Hard (i)
|
 Emily Appleton
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3–6, 6–3, 3–6
|
Doubles: 4 (2 titles, 2 runner-ups)
| Legend
|
| W15 tournaments (2–2)
|
|
| Finals by surface
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| 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
|
Anita Sahdiieva
|
Sara Daavettila
Katherine Hui
|
6–7(4), 4–6
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| Win
|
1–2
|
Jul 2024
|
ITF Lakewood, United States
|
W15
|
Hard
|
Anita Sahdiieva
|
Carolyn Ansari
 Gabriella Broadfoot
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6–4, 2–6, [10–8]
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| Win
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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.
- ^ Ahmed, Nurein (February 20, 2025). "Four Players Receive WTA Austin Wild Cards". Last Word on Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Plotkin, Jay (February 24, 2025). "Texas ex Malaika Rapolu falls in first round of ATX Open, taking her lumps as a young pro". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
External links