Sophomore tennis phenomenon Alex Croitoru transferred to Sage Hill School last fall after attending ICL Academy. Alex is among the top 10 sophomore tennis players in California and in the top 30 nationally, making him a valuable 5-star recruit. He carries an impressive 11 UTR in singles and 10.6 UTR in doubles. 

“I transferred to Sage Hill because I wanted to try a new environment and more opportunities to grow academically. Prior to Sage, I was homeschooled, so I just wanted to try something new,” Alex said.

Alex’s love for tennis was greatly influenced by his family’s connection to the game. His uncle’s passion for the sport inspired him to pick up a racket. 

“I started playing casually with my cousin just for fun, but over time, I began to enjoy it more and wanted to improve,” Alex said. 

His love for the sport grew until it became a big part of his life. While most top tennis players start very young around four to five years old, Croitoru started relatively late for tennis players at seven years old. 

“The biggest part that got me to where I am is practicing every day. Over time, my dedication and hard work helped me get better,” Alex said.

Alex notes that reaching the milestone of an 11 UTR is one of his most memorable achievements, along with some big wins in tournaments. He recently made the Level 4 division semifinals at the 67th Long Beach Junior Open. 

Another reason Alex moved to Sage Hill was because of his friend and teammate, sophomore tennis player Alex Park. Alex is a four-star recruit with an impressive 10.38 UTR. He currently ranks 115th nationally and 33rd in California for sophomore tennis players. Both 10th graders train at Veylix Tennis, where they quickly became friends.

Looking ahead, Alex’s goal for the near future is to play Division 1 college tennis, which is possible due to his ranking. According to NCSA College Recruiting, approximately the top 100 players of each class get recruited to play at a D1 university. Alex’s national ranking in the top 30 of his age group puts him well within that range. His ultimate goal is to play professional tennis.

“Tennis is a big part of my life, and I hope to keep playing competitively for as long as possible,” he said.

Croitoru and Park are expected to spearhead the Boys’ Tennis team’s hopes for a CIF Division 1 Championship this season.