WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Raihan Lele is a 7th grader at Foothill Middle School. He started playing tennis during the start of the pandemic in 2020 and, like many aspiring tennis buffs, appears to have been bitten by the “tennis bug”. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the “tennis bug” refers to the development of a strong interest or heightened enthusiasm for the sport.

As a way to beat the pandemic blahs, Raihan started practicing 10 hours a week. Not long after taking up the sport, his passion for playing tennis grew. Soon, Raihan was on the court every day. In fact, Raihan has joined a competitive league playing tournaments with the United States Tennis Association (USTA). In fact, he played in 20 USTA-sanctioned tournaments this year. He also played in and was a finalist at Northgate High School’s Level-6 Tournament.

As his ranking continues to climb, so does his passion for the sport. Raihan continues to improve and conducts practices at Arbolado Tennis Courts and Gorin Tennis Academy.

Raihan is one example of how many kids in the Northgate area are seeking new and innovative ways to connect. For Raihan, getting outside, playing a sport, and meeting new people has turned him into a fantastic young tennis player.

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