Ava
Cortez

Ava Cortez came to tennis the way the best competitors often do — not from years of early development, but from a genuine love of the game itself. She fell in love with tennis at 12, drawn not just to the physical challenge but to something rarer: the mental one. Every swing different, every match a new problem to solve. That's what hooked her. That's what keeps her coming back.

Now a junior at Eastwood High School and one of the few elite left-handed players in the El Paso region, Ava has built her game on exactly that philosophy. She describes tennis as "independently thinking in real-time while executing at the physical level" — and that mindset shows in how she competes. She doesn't just play points. She thinks through them. Her season record of 18–12 reflects a player who is actively developing, pushing herself against strong competition and finding growth in every result.

That growth showed up clearly in the 2026 District 6A tournament. Entering seeded fourth as a junior, Ava fought through tough competition to finish on the podium in third place — a result that says more than a record ever could. Her game is evolving fast: her forehand confidence has surged, her focus is sharper, and her serve — particularly her second serve — is developing into a weapon. As a left-handed player, she brings a natural advantage to the doubles court that coaches at every level look for.

Ava was named team captain coming into her junior year — a recognition of who she is off the court as much as on it. She describes her approach simply: losses are lessons, trajectory matters more than outcomes, and the grind is something she genuinely loves. She is also a 3.0 GPA student with an eye toward Mathematics, someone who brings the same analytical mindset to the classroom that she brings to every match. Off the court, she values time with family and friends — the kind of person who is easy to coach and even easier to root for. She is actively in contact with programs and seeking Division I, II, and III opportunities for Fall 2027.