Teen Tennis Star Makes GB Debut Days After Taking Exams

Just last summer, Mika Stojsavljevic was taking her GCSE exams between tennis matches at a professional tournament in Nottingham. This week, the 17-year-old will step onto the court in Melbourne to represent Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup, the premier international team competition in women's tennis.

Stojsavljevic will face Australia's Talia Gibson in Friday's opening match, despite being ranked over 200 places below her opponent. The matchup doesn't faze the teenager, who captured the US Open junior title in 2024 and has been climbing the professional ranks ever since.

"It means everything to me," Stojsavljevic told the Lawn Tennis Association after getting the call from captain Anne Keothavong. "I had just finished in the gym when she called me and honestly, I couldn't believe it."

The Loughborough academy graduate hasn't chosen between school and sport. She's currently studying English Literature and Politics at A-Level while competing on the ITF World Tennis Tour, proving the two paths can run parallel.

Her recent results show the gamble is paying off. Last autumn, Stojsavljevic reached three tournament finals in a row, winning a $35,000 event in Birmingham and finishing runner-up at competitions in Tunisia and Wrexham.

Why This Inspires

Stojsavljevic's journey challenges the myth that elite athletes must sacrifice everything else for their sport. While other teenagers choose between education and competition, she's doing both and excelling at each.

Her selection comes at a challenging moment for British tennis. With top players Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and others sidelined by injury, Great Britain enters as heavy underdogs against Australia.

But giving a 17-year-old her debut shows faith in the future. Win or lose this weekend, Stojsavljevic gains invaluable experience representing her country on an international stage.

The winners advance to September's eight-team finals in China. The teenager who was answering exam questions last June might soon be competing against the world's best.