An 18-year-old Filipina tennis player is set out to make a name in professional tennis.

Victoria Flores is determined to be the first Filipina to win a top level tennis title.

Her speed and dominance on the surface helps her reach many junior tours and hopes to eventually be in the main draws of prestigious tennis tournaments in the world with top-echelon players.

She started playing tennis at the age of 3 and with the help of her parents who are both tennis players and licensed tennis coaches, she eventually became pro with the racket. Now a top-100 ranked player by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), there’s no way to go for the proud Filipina but up.

“Every single time I play or every single time I go in court, I’m proud to represent the Philippines even though I’m from America I’m a 100% Filipino and my parents, they always want me to be proud that I’m from there,” Flores said.

Her mother Mary Ann Flores is proud of her daughter’s sharp acceleration in the rankings. “We are very happy we are very proud of her and we never really expected that she will go this far.”

Climbing up the tennis ladder is no mean feat. Flores is now 95 out of 2000 in the International Tennis Federation junior rankings. She has already won 32 single and 32 double matches in her career.

She has made significant milestones in her journey. Highlights to her international playing experience include reaching the semifinals in singles and THE quarterfinals in doubles at the 47th Banana Bowl Grade 1 ITF event in Brazil in February. In January, she advanced to the quarterfinal round in singles at Copa Barranquilla in Columbia and the doubles quarterfinals of the 53rd Coffee Bowl in Costa Rica.

Recently, she was in the quarterfinals in Santa Croce Italy where she beat high-ranking players.

Her goal is to compete and vie for a medal at the Olympics, and one day share her skills with fellow Filipino athletes.

“I’m lucky to train and be in the US for tennis but I really hope when I’m older I get the opportunity to share my talent with tennis and inspire other Filipino players back home,” Flores said.

With back to back tournaments in Europe this month, Flores hopes to play in the qualifying rounds of the US Open and Wimbledon before college.

Flores is a blue-chip recruit and one of the top women’s recruiting class at number 12. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Georgia Tech women’s tennis program beginning in the fall of 2017, announced head coach Rodney Harmon.

“We are so happy to welcome Victoria to the Yellow Jacket family,” Harmon commented. “She has had so much success in the past year in both international junior and pro events in addition to performing well in the classroom.”

Given Flores’ triumphs illuminating her path to a successful tennis career, she continues to work hard and be proud of her Filipino roots.