Anna Yu, Dunlap’s junior tennis sensation, just wrapped up her season with a seriously impressive top-8 finish at the 2026 IHSA girls state tennis finals. While her run ended Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Class 2A consolation state semifinals, don’t let that final score fool you: this kid showed out in a massive way.
Yu’s Grit on Display in Tough State Run
The final match for Yu saw her fall 6-3, 6-2 to New Trier junior Ingrid Fielder, who also had her number earlier in the championship bracket with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory. But focusing only on those two losses misses the absolute battle Yu put up. This wasn’t some easy path, folks. Yu had to fight through a stacked bracket, and she picked up some huge wins along the way. She took down Enya Neagu of Barrington 6-3, 6-3 in the consolation quarterfinals, then powered past Maya Keller of Highland Park 6-2, 6-4 in Consolation Round 5. Neuqua Valley’s Jennifer Tang couldn’t stop her either, falling 6-0, 6-2. And before facing Fielder in the championship rounds, Yu dispatched Maddie Hrtanek (Rolling Meadows) 6-1, 6-1 and Lily Tang (Metea Valley) 6-2, 6-3. That’s a full slate of dominant tennis against top-tier competition. She earned every single one of those victories.
All-State Honors and a Bright Future for Dunlap
Despite the consolation semis loss, Yu’s performance was impossible to ignore. She earned second-team All-State honors, a huge recognition, and sealed a top-8 finish in her very first time competing in the Class 2A state finals. Think about that for a second: her *first* go-around at this level and she’s already cracking the top-8. This isn’t just a flash in the pan either, she’s the two-time reigning Journal Star Player of the Year and was the Class 1A state runner-up just last season.
And it wasn’t just Yu making noise. Her Dunlap team finished 15th in the overall team standings. For a program making its debut as a Class 2A participant, that’s not just good, that’s a statement. They weren’t just happy to be there, they came to compete. With Yu coming back as a senior next year, after showing she can hang with the absolute best in Class 2A, the future for Dunlap tennis looks incredibly bright. Watch out, because they’re just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply