New Providence Sophomore Rises to First Singles in Tennis

Naina Rao has been on a tennis court since she was 4 years old—about 11 years of dedication that has carried her from third singles to first singles on the New Providence High School girls tennis team this season. The sophomore has been named the Joe Eberle Weichert Realtors Pioneer Athlete of the Week.

This season, Rao won all of her challenge matches to earn the top singles spot. She holds a 7-2 record and opened the season with four consecutive victories, all in straight sets. As a freshman last year, she went 6-1 in state match play.

Head Coach Tracy Aroneo describes Rao as a complete player. "Naina is a fierce competitor. She has a well-rounded game with excellent power on her serve and forehand," Aroneo said. "She is a pleasure to coach, as she is always willing to work hard to improve."

Rao credits her own development to sharper decision-making and a stronger serve. "Since I began playing varsity, I've gotten better at recognizing the right time to go for winners, and my serve speed has increased a lot," she said.

Rao's most memorable match came last season against a Governor Livingston player. "The first time I played against their player, I lost in a close match, but I learned from it and figured out her weaknesses," Rao said. "When I played her again, I was able to win, which made it really memorable for me."

Off the court, Rao teaches math to kids at the library. "I enjoy working through challenging problems, but I also really love teaching math to kids at the library and helping them see that math can actually be fun," she said. She also spends time with her dog and baking, trying new recipes and making different desserts.

Rao's role model is professional tennis player Ben Shelton. "I really admire Ben Shelton because of how calm he always is on the court, especially in big moments. I also really like his aggressive style of play and how strong his serve is," she said.

FAQ

Q: Who is Naina Rao?

A: Naina Rao is a sophomore at New Providence High School who plays girls tennis. She has been named the Joe Eberle Weichert Realtors Pioneer Athlete of the Week for her achievement and character.

Q: What position does Naina play?

A: Naina plays first singles for the New Providence girls tennis team this season. She earned this position by winning all of her challenge matches.

Q: What is Naina's record this season?

A: Naina holds a 7-2 record this season and opened with four consecutive victories, all in straight sets.

Q: How long has Naina been playing tennis?

A: Naina has been playing tennis since she was 4 years old, giving her about 11 years of experience.

Q: How did Naina progress from third singles to first singles?

A: This season, Naina won all of her challenge matches, which earned her the promotion to the first singles position.

Q: What was Naina's record as a freshman?

A: As a freshman in 2025, Naina went 6-1 in state match play.

Q: What does Coach Aroneo say about Naina?

A: Coach Tracy Aroneo describes her as a fierce competitor with a well-rounded game and excellent power on her serve and forehand. "She is a pleasure to coach, as she is always willing to work hard to improve," the coach said.

Q: How does Naina describe her own improvement?

A: Naina credits her development to sharper decision-making and a stronger serve. "Since I began playing varsity, I've gotten better at recognizing the right time to go for winners, and my serve speed has increased a lot," she said.

Q: What is Naina's most memorable match?

A: Her most memorable match was against a Governor Livingston player. After losing the first match, she learned the player's weaknesses and won the rematch, which she found very meaningful.

Q: What does Naina do off the court?

A: Off the court, Naina teaches math to kids at the library, spends time with her dog, and bakes, trying new recipes and making different desserts.

Q: Who is Naina's role model?

A: Naina's role model is professional tennis player Ben Shelton. She admires his composure on court, especially in big moments, his aggressive style of play, and his strong serve.

Q: Why was Naina named Pioneer Athlete of the Week?

A: Naina was recognized for her achievement on the tennis court, her dedication and hard work, and her character as a student-athlete.