Athlete of the Week: Battlefield girls' singles star Sofia Raval
HAYMARKET, Va. (7News) — The Battlefield High School Girls' tennis team is hoping to make a deep run in the Virginia State Tournament. One of the members of the team the Bobcats are counting on is the Cedar Run District champion, Sofia Raval.
I like it a lot. It's been I've been playing really well.
The sophomore won the district girls' singles title as well as the girls' doubles district championship. "It feels nice. I feel good. I think it's a good accomplishment," Raval told 7News.
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This is Raval's first season with the Bobcats after being home-schooled, "I think that being with a team has been a lot better for me. I've been a lot more successful because of the people around me. Instead of being by myself."
"She's been a bubbly personality that just gives energy to the rest of the team. She's just been a great addition to what was already here," said Battlefield Girls' Tennis Head Coach Lisa Ward.
"It's amazing how far the ball comes off the rackets these days. It wasn't like that when I was in high school," Ward added.
It's not often, but when things get rough on the court for Raval, she always seems to keep a level head and an ability to stay calm.
"I usually can't be too stressed. So I just loosen myself up and then that helps a lot for me." She continued, "Then Yoga also helps. That and meditating and breathing can also help a lot with stress during matches, and my bad days."
Tennis is something that started at an early age for Raval. It began as a father-daughter activity when she was just 9 years old.
"One day my dad took me out and I started playing, and I liked it. Then over time I got better because I practiced a lot."
Raval patterns her game after her favorite player, "Roger Federer... He just plays like an angel. He's just so elegant and I just love his style of play. He also has really good sportsmanship. Yeah, that's why I really liked him."
