Carla Chavez Ramirez

In front of a tennis court photgraph is the Oviedo High mascot design. Logo courtesy of clipartmax.com

Tennis is often seen as an individual sport, but for the Oviedo girls tennis team, teamwork still plays an important role.

The team currently holds an overall record of 2-5, with district play still at 0-0 as the season continues.
For freshman Melis Demir, who currently has a 0-2 singles record, joining the team has helped her grow as a player.

“Being a part of a team really has helped me, because I get to work with other people, get to see other people’s playing styles rather than just being alone,” Demir said.

Demir says, watching teammates compete and practice helps her learn new strategies and improve her own game. Even during matches, teammates stand by the fence cheering each other on. When asked to describe the team in one word, she called it “supportive.” That encouragement, she says, helps players stay confident and continue improving.

Junior Christine Barsoum, who currently holds five singles matches with a 1-1 win-loss record, says the team environment motivates her to keep pushing herself.

“Even though tennis is an individual sport, my team supports me by cheering us on and making us feel better when we make mistakes,” Barsoum said. “I don’t think I would perform the same without my teammates because they push me every day to try harder and give me motivation.”

Barsoum describes the team dynamic as “resilient,” emphasizing that players encourage each other to move past mistakes instead of dwelling on them.

The collaborative side of tennis becomes even more visible during doubles matches, where communication and chemistry between partners are essential. In their match against Lake Howell, Oviedo’s doubles team consisted of Melis Demir and Sandhya Saravanan. Lake Howell ultimately secured the match 8-1, highlighting the intensity of competition early in the season.

Junior Anuhya Dronulada says the team’s support plays a big role in performance.

“I don’t think I would perform the same without my teammates,” Dronadula said. “They’re a very important part of how I play.”

She describes the team dynamic as “motivating,” saying the encouragement from teammates pushes players to continue improving throughout the season.

Although tennis is played individually or in pairs, players say the support from teammates continues to shape their experience throughout the season.

“What motivates us to improve with each game is definitely the support and the people around us,” Dronulada said.