Ladue's Kayla Chan looks to add a singles title to go with her doubles championship as the Missouri girls tennis state tournament begins Thursday in Springfield.
Chan teamed with Megan Ouyang to capture the Class 2 doubles title in convincing fashion when she was a freshman in 2022. Chan and Ouyang lost just seven games in their four matches at state that season.
Chan did not qualify for individual state last year but helped the Rams to the team championship. Ladue is back in the final four in the team tournament, which will be played Oct. 31-Nov. 1. But her focus now is on the individual tournament. She opens play Thursday against MICDS freshman Audrey Taves.
The Class 2 singles field should be wide open as the top five finishers from 2023 do not return. Springfield Catholic's Lila Griesemer finished sixth and is on the top line of the 16-player draw.
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Washington's Evelyn Bryson returns after being the first player from her school to qualify for state last year. She finished eighth to earn an all-state medal.
Bryson is in line to have one of the more interesting matches Thursday. She would face Emmie Kinder of Ursuline in the second round if each wins their first match. Kinder finished third and second the last two years in Class 1. The Bears have moved up to Class 2 this fall.
Villa Duchesne's Katie Todorovich is back in the Class 2 doubles field. She teamed with her sister Alexandra to finish second in doubles last year. She teams with Courtney Potter this year.
The most accomplished players at state this year are in Class 1 doubles. Kennett's Claire Bean and Handley McAtee aim for their third straight state title.
Only two of the eight medalists return in Class 1 singles and ironically play each other in the first round. Elena Williams of Lafayette County, who finished sixth last year, will match up against Elizabeth Smith of Monett. Smith finished seventh.
Class 3 will have the stage to itself on Saturday but their singles championship could be determined in a second round match Friday.
St. Joseph's Academy standout freshman Adelyn Gross, who is undefeated, will likely face North Kansas City's Sydney Fuger in a battle of the two pre-tournament favorites. Fuger is a three-time state medalist who lost in the Class 3 singles championship last year to Amber Yin of Lafayette.
Amber's sister, Mia, is another of the favorites. She is also on the same half of the draw as Gross and Fuger.
St. Joseph's Academy's Ali Kennedy and Ashley Behan return in defense of their Class 3 doubles crown. Allie Wayne and Isabelle Hawkins of John Burroughs will be big challengers as they have won three of four matches against Kennedy and Behan this year.
The individual tournament will begin with Class 1 at 9 a.m. Thursday. Class 2 will follow shortly thereafter and both classes will play two rounds Thursday.
The semifinals will be at 8 a.m. Friday for both classes and the championship matches are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Class 3 will begin its tournament with two rounds Friday, starting at 1 p.m.
Semifinals for Class 3 will be at 8 a.m. Saturday with championships at 11:30 a.m.
All matches will be played at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield.
