Tyra Richardson Signs with Women's Tennis
November 16, 2020 | Women's Tennis
Chicago native brings an impressive resume to Card Nation
Tennis player Tyra Richardson from Chicago's St. Ignatius College Prep signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her career at the University of Louisville.
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" I am excited to announce that Tyra Richardson has joined the Louisville Women's Tennis program. We are fortunate to get her here because I think she is going to take off once she gets to Louisville," said Mark Beckham, UofL head coach. "A lot of junior players already have access to everything they need training wise and are closer to a finished product when they step onto a campus, that is not the case for Tyra. She will grow a great deal in her 4 years in the program. Tyra is a really intelligent young lady and the academic side has been a priority for her with the school that she attends in Chicago. When she gets here, it will be the first time in a while that she will be able to put equal amounts of time to both the academics and her tennis. That's what is so exciting as a coach because she is already a very good player but she is now going to get consistent on and off court training, her potential to grow as a player is so high. She also comes from a great family, both parents made it very clear what they want for Tyra and they support/trust the guidance I will give her the next four years. I feel confident that the University of Louisville Athletics will be very proud of what she does here as a person and an athlete the next four years."
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She is a two-time USTA Midwest Level 3 Singles Champion and won the Girls 18 draw in both the USTA Midwest Level 3 Tournament in St. Joseph, Mich., and is Aurora Illinois. She won the USTA National Level 3 Doubles Champion with partner Anisha Apte and the Darling Memorial Spring National, Girls 16s, in Las Vegas of 2019.  She was a singles finalist at the 2019 Chicago District Championships (Girls 18s)  and was a Qualifier at the Midwest Level 3 in Evanston, Ill. She won four singles matches in a row including defeating top 40 senior, Imani Graham and finishing Top 32-25, Girls 18s USTA National Winter Championships (Level 1), USTA National Campus,  in Orlando 2020.
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While attending St. Ignatius College Prep, high school in Chicago, she achieved the following:
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" I am excited to announce that Tyra Richardson has joined the Louisville Women's Tennis program. We are fortunate to get her here because I think she is going to take off once she gets to Louisville," said Mark Beckham, UofL head coach. "A lot of junior players already have access to everything they need training wise and are closer to a finished product when they step onto a campus, that is not the case for Tyra. She will grow a great deal in her 4 years in the program. Tyra is a really intelligent young lady and the academic side has been a priority for her with the school that she attends in Chicago. When she gets here, it will be the first time in a while that she will be able to put equal amounts of time to both the academics and her tennis. That's what is so exciting as a coach because she is already a very good player but she is now going to get consistent on and off court training, her potential to grow as a player is so high. She also comes from a great family, both parents made it very clear what they want for Tyra and they support/trust the guidance I will give her the next four years. I feel confident that the University of Louisville Athletics will be very proud of what she does here as a person and an athlete the next four years."
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She is a two-time USTA Midwest Level 3 Singles Champion and won the Girls 18 draw in both the USTA Midwest Level 3 Tournament in St. Joseph, Mich., and is Aurora Illinois. She won the USTA National Level 3 Doubles Champion with partner Anisha Apte and the Darling Memorial Spring National, Girls 16s, in Las Vegas of 2019.  She was a singles finalist at the 2019 Chicago District Championships (Girls 18s)  and was a Qualifier at the Midwest Level 3 in Evanston, Ill. She won four singles matches in a row including defeating top 40 senior, Imani Graham and finishing Top 32-25, Girls 18s USTA National Winter Championships (Level 1), USTA National Campus,  in Orlando 2020.
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While attending St. Ignatius College Prep, high school in Chicago, she achieved the following:
- 2-time Academic All-American named by the NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association)
- 2-time GCAC (Girls Catholic Athletic Conference) All Conference Academic Team
- 2-time 1st Team All State, Class 2A Singles, Illinois High School Association (IHSA)
- 2-time Champion, Class 2A Singles, SectionalÂ
- 2-time Athlete of the Year, Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC)
- 2-time Team MVP - St. Ignatius College Prep Varsity Tennis
- 3rd Place, Class 2A Singles at State Tournament, Illinois High School Association (IHSA) as a Sophomore, October 21, 2018. The St. Ignatius College Prep 1st Girls Singles Medal winner in school history.
- Winner of 5 matches and the Back-draw of USTA National Level 3 Tournament, Girls 16s, Greensboro, NC (clay surface), March 23-25, 2019
- Semi-Finalist, 2019 USTA Midwest Level 3 tournament, Girls 18s (32-draw), April 6-7, 2019, XS Tennis Village, Chicago, IL
- 3rd Place, USTA National March Level 3, Girls 16s Doubles (Partner, Sierra Sandy), Greensboro, NC, March 24-26, 2018
- Winner of 6 matches and winner of the Back-draw, USTA Midwest Level 1 Championships (64-draw), Girls 18s, Mishawaka, IN, November 3 - 5, 2018
- Winner of 6 matches, including defeating two 5 Stars, USTA Midwest Level 1 Closed Championships, Girls 16s (128-draw), Indianapolis, IN, June 23 - 28, 20
- Winner of 6 matches, including defeating #2 seed, Blue Chip and 9th ranked player in the nation, 6-3/4-6/10-7, USTA National Clay Courts Championships (Level 1), Girls 14s, Plantation, FL, July 16 - 23, 2017
- Semi-Finals in Singles and Finals in Doubles, Amelia Classic USTA National Level 3 Girls 14s Tournament (clay surface), Fernandina Beach, FL, March 25-27, 201
- 2-time Round of 16 performance at National Level 1 tournaments
- Reached Round of 16, Silver Group Finalist (Finishing 9th) 2015 USTA National Girls 12s Championships (Level 1), August 2015
- Reached Round of 16 (earned #7 seed), 2015 USTA National Spring Tournament (Easter Bowl) (National Level 1), Girls 12s (lost round of 16 match 6-0/4-6/9-11), Indian Wells, CA, April 4 - 10, 2015
- 3-time Finalist at USTA Midwest Level 1 Championships - 128 draw
- Finalist, 2015 USTA Midwest Level 1 Fall Closed Girls 14s Championships (128-draw), November 2015
- Finalist in Singles and Champion in Doubles 2015 Midwest Level 1 Outdoor Closed Championships Girls 12s (128-draw), June 2015
- Finalist, 2012 USTA Midwest Closed Level 1 tournament, Girls 10s (128-draw), July 22, 2012, Indianapolis, IN
- 2-time 3rd Place at USTA Midwest Level 1 Championships - 128 draw
- 3rd Place in Singles, 2014 USTA Midwest Level 1 Outdoor Closed Championships Girls 12s (128-draw), June 2014
- 3rd Place, 2013 USTA Midwest Closed Level 1 tournament, Girls 10s (128-draw), July 201
- Champion of the Chicago District Championships Girls 12s (64-draw), June 2015 June 2015
- As a freshman, she finished 7th, Class 2A Singles, Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Tournament including defeating 5 Star Junior 6-3/6-4 (Tennisrecruiting.net), October 21, 2017
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