The Star-Banner’s girls tennis player of the year for 2026, Forest junior Alexis Dessaint has an admission to make about her early days on the court.
“I was not good,” she said with a laugh. “I was really awful.”
Dessaint elaborated, saying that her elementary-school self had no touch and limited eye-hand coordination. She even called it “defeating.”
But, unlike a lot of kids who might give up and move on to something more initially rewarding, Dessaint stuck with it. She said she enjoyed being around other players and discovered she appreciated being coached beyond what was comfortable to her.
After a year or two of “a lot of practice and patience”, Dessaint got a lot better. And now, she’s the county’s best.
Playing No. 1 singles for the Wildcats, she finished 6-3 this spring. She went 6-1 against local rivals with the only loss coming against fellow all-county player Kaitlyn Zhao of West Port, who Dessaint also defeated in another match.
“I definitely think she has the right mentality and drive when she plays,” said boys player of the year Lucas Joyce of Redeemer Christian. “You can tell she wants to be the best.”
Despite the growth in her game and the success she has had, Dessaint said that, like the uncoordinated 8-year-old who once would hit the ball into the net more often than over it, she still battles confidence issues.
“I feel like I need to work on my mindset most,” Dessaint said. “I know – wow, tennis player of the year … but not everything is perfect. It’s hard to go into matches and feel like I’m going to win. I have to be able to walk out there with that mindset.”
Dessaint does add that she has felt her self-belief pick up before matches when warming up with her opponent. At some point, Dessaint unleashes one of the faster serves in the county and the expression across the net changes.
“When I see that, it gets me pumped up,” Dessaint said.
While acknowledging tennis is primarily a sport where, save for some occasional words from your coach during a match, it is individual versus individual, Dessaint said she loves the team aspect, too.
She said she noticed in her first couple of years playing for FHS, often players would have their sole focus be on their own matches. She said that, while there is nothing wrong with that, there was something special about someone finishing and then walking over to root on her teammate.
“I love going between courts and cheering,” Dessaint said. “Things like that help girls out a lot.”
2026 All-Marion County girls tennis team
Alexis Dessaint, Forest: 6-3 singles, 4-5 doubles
Gabriella Graff, West Port: 7-1 singles, 6-1 doubles
Maklaryn Roberts, North Marion: 11-2 singles, 7-6 doubles
Briana Stephens, Belleview: 5-1 singles, 3-3 doubles
Mary Grace Stevens, Trinity Catholic: 4-4 singles, 2-3 doubles
Kaitlyn Zhao, West Port: 2-4 singles, 5-1 doubles
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: From ‘awful’ to No. 1, Forest High’s best leads All-County girls tennis team
Reporting by John Patton, Special to the Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Patton, Special to the Star-Banner | USA TODAY Network
