Newsday's top 25 Long Island girls tennis players for 2026
Clockwise, from top left: Shoriya Bhat-Bhandarkar and Christiana Kent, Lily Castka, Lilliana Chou, Tiffany Cai.
Newsday's annual list of the top 25 Long Island high school girls tennis players to start the 2026 season, listed in alphabetical order. All stats listed are from last season, unless otherwise noted.
Shoriya Bhat-Bhandarkar (Sr.) and Christiana Kent (Sr.), Port Washington
Bhat-Bhandarkar does everything well, from groundstrokes to net play. Kent attacks the ball and uses her lefty advantage to help set up her partner. The pair finished third in Nassau and made it to the round of 16 in the state tournament.
Aleksa Brazyte, Connetquot, Sr.
She won the divisional tournament and finished in the quarterfinals of the Suffolk individual championships. A six-year varsity athlete, Brazyte is a major contributor to Connetquot’s lineup and can use her skill to advance further into the county tournament.
Tiffany Cai, Syosset, 8th
She helped lead Syosset’s doubles lineup and dropped only two matches last season. Cai’s speed and tenacity will make her an even stronger asset for the reigning state champions.
Lily Castka, Bayport-Blue Point, Sr.
She was named Newsday’s 2025 Suffolk Player of the Year after a memorable season. Castka won the Suffolk individual singles title and helped the Phantoms to their first state championship. She finished in the round of 16 of the individual state tournament.
Lilliana Chou, Division, Jr.
She placed third in singles at the Nassau individual championships and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Chou is a talented young athlete who is a major asset to Division’s singles lineup.
Lola Dangin (Jr.) and Lillien Weiss (Soph.), Ross
They made a strong impression in their first year together, winning the Suffolk individual doubles title and finishing third in the state tournament, dropping only one match to the eventual state champions.
Alyssa Davis (Jr.) and Ema Villacreses (Sr.), Sachem
The pair advanced to the round of 16 in the state doubles tournament, losing to the eventual state champions. Davis and Villacreses will return even stronger this year and lead Sachem’s doubles lineup.
Clockwise, from top left: Alyssa Davis, Ema Villacreses, Chloe Gross, Evie Loewy, Lola Dangin and Lillien Weiss.
Chloe Gross, Roslyn, Sr.
She advanced to the state quarterfinals in doubles in 2024 and made it to the quarterfinals of the Nassau individual championships as a singles player last season. Gross is a strong all-around player who continues to improve.
Evie Loewy, Port Washington, Sr.
She won the Nassau individual doubles title and finished fifth in the state alongside Brianna Lewis. Loewy is a smart, consistent player who knows how to build a point.
Sofia Matos, Longwood, Soph.
She placed second in the Suffolk individual tournament and finished in the round of 16 at the state championships. Matos is a steady competitor whose strengths lie in her composure and smart play.
Sofia Perez, Mount Sinai, Jr.
She is a fiery competitor who finished third in the Suffolk individual tournament. She placed fifth in the state. Perez has a ‘refuse to lose’ mentality that makes her tough to beat.
Sonali Prabhakar, Wheatley, Jr.
After not competing in high school last season, her return to Wheatley’s lineup is heavily anticipated. Prabhakar went 9-4 at first singles as a freshman in 2024.
Juliette Prince, Syosset, 7th
She will join Syosset as a top prospect in an already star-studded lineup. Prince is ferocious from the baseline and can hit any type of shot from anywhere on the court.
Eden Romano (Fr.) and Evie Romano (Sr.), Bayport-Blue Point
The sisters finished in the round of 16 at the Suffolk individual championships. Eden played throughout the lineup and helped the Phantoms to their first state title as a singles player. Evie helped lead the doubles lineup all season.
Clockwise, from top left: Sofia Perez, Sofia Matos, Eden Romano, Evie Romano.
Brooke Saracco, Ross, Jr.
She finished fifth in the Suffolk individual tournament and led the Ross School’s already strong singles lineup. Saracco is a steady, composed athlete with a deep arsenal of skills.
Anabel Van Cott (Sr.) and Lydia Van Cott (Sr.), Floyd
The powerhouse twins finished second in the doubles draw of the Suffolk individual championships and made it to the round of 16 in the state tournament. Both athletes are well-rounded singles and doubles players who can help Floyd’s lineup wherever they are placed.
Diya Varma (Jr.) and Selena Wang (Soph.), Syosset
The pair finished fourth in the Nassau individual doubles tournament and could make a run for the title this season. Varma and Wang only lost one match each and two as a pair.
Clockwise, from top left: Brooke Saracco, Anabel and Lydia Van Cott, Diya Varma, Selena Wang, Hannah Wang.
Hannah Wang, Syosset, Fr.
She placed second in the Nassau individual doubles tournament and finished seventh in the state. In her third year on varsity, she will return even stronger in all aspects of her game.
Alexis Wu, Great Neck South, Fr.
She is joining Great Neck South’s squad as a skilled young player. Wu has the potential to be one of the best players in the county as a freshman and a new addition to the singles lineup.
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
