Emerging 15yo talent Bridget Mihulka breaks into top 1000 WTA world ranking

An exciting young tennis prospect has taken a major step in her career which has her proud coach predicting a bright future.

There is an exciting new tennis prospect in town.

Bridget Mihulka, 15, achieved a remarkable feat before the new year when she gained her first WTA world ranking in the top 1000.

The Maribyrnong College Sports Academy tennis captain received a ranking of 941, a rare achievement for a tennis player of her age.

Marc Sophoulis who is a former tennis professional and head coach of the Maribyrnong College tennis program and Melbourne International Tennis School said Mihulka was a standout player.

“It’s an outstanding achievement for a player of that age,” Sophoulis said.

“Anyone that is 15 is sort of classified as a kid for me.

“Her achievements on the professional tour when you’re playing against players that are doing this for a living and while she is at school are quite remarkable.”

Maribyrnong tennis coach Marc Sophoulis with emerging talent Bridget Mihulka. Picture: Supplied

The ranking honour came in the midst of a successful tournament for Mihulka in late November last year where she made it through to the second round at the ITF W25 tournament in Traralgon.

There she fell short to a top ranked Lizette Cabrera.

Mihulka then capped off the year with a successful December Showdown tournament where she won the Australian U16 doubles title alongside Ava-Monet Sycamore.

In the singles, she narrowly fell short in the quarter-final after having to play a gruelling third match in one day, caused by washed out matches from previous days.

Mihulka will get the opportunity again next year to win the U16s title as she has another year remaining in the age group.

Ava-Monet Sycamore, Marc Sophoulis and Bridget Mihulka after their December Showdown Australian U16 doubles win. Picture: Supplied

Sophoulis, who has coached top Australian tennis players including Anastasia and Arina Rodionova, believes Mihulka has the potential to be a top 100 ranked player.

“I think she has got capabilities of being quite a good player,” he said

“Look, where she gets to I don’t know.

“She can do some damage, I think potentially she can be a top 100 player.

“The sky’s the limit when you got a kid that can do what she has done.

“If we put a ceiling on her, we’re doing her an injustice.”

Sophoulis, who is also an assistant coach with Richmond VFL’s team, was complimentary of Mihulka’s competitiveness on the tennis court.

“It’s really hard to teach being competitive,” he said.

“I think there is a gene in you that you are either competitive or not and she has got that in spades.

“She is like a bull to a red rag and when things need to happen she makes it happen.”

Mihulka strengths on the court include her ball striking, aggression from the baseline, power hitting, her big serve and the array of weapons she has which is important at the highest level.

Off the court, the youngster is a leader and selfless with her support of others.

She is also a driven character, with goals of becoming a doctor in future.

Mihulka will look to continue her success in tournaments in 2023 with a chance of a potential Australian Open birth in years to come.