The UIL State Tennis Championships kicked off in San Antonio with a mix of cool weather and hot performances, as several local stars made their mark on the first day of competition. While a cold front swept through the city, bringing temperatures down to the 60s and gusty winds, the action on the courts was anything but chilly.
Grapevine's mixed doubles duo of Sara Gyorgy and Noah Malin wasted no time asserting their dominance, breezing through the quarterfinals with a commanding performance. Their chemistry and precision on the court were on full display, setting the stage for what could be a deep run in the tournament.
Meanwhile, W.T. White's Brodie Keller took a significant step toward making history. With each match, Keller is proving why he's one of the most exciting players to watch this season, moving one step closer to etching his name in the record books.
The winds of change were also blowing in favor of Coppell's Lexie Patton. After coming agonizingly close to a state title in each of the past three seasons—including a heartbreaking three-set loss in the 2025 final and semifinal exits in both singles and doubles—Patton finally seems to have the momentum on her side. Teaming up with Gabrielle Rice in doubles this year, the senior duo looked unstoppable in their quarterfinal match against Austin Westlake's Lucy McGarrahan and Charlotte Wernli. Patton and Rice cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory, winning the final ten games in a masterclass of net play and punishing groundstrokes.
"I feel, for me, to really expand as a player, doubles would be a good option," said Patton, who is signed with Louisiana Tech and becomes the first Coppell tennis athlete to reach the state tournament in all four of her varsity seasons. "Gabby really wanted to do doubles with me, and so I thought this would be perfect because I can both improve my game and play with one of my best friends."
Even the unpredictable weather couldn't shake their focus. "The wind definitely plays a big factor in how the matches will go, but the main thing we said going into it was to stay focused on our game and not get too distracted with everything else that's going on," added Rice, who is headed to Southeastern Louisiana.
Action resumes Friday at 8 a.m. with the state semifinals, and if Thursday was any indication, fans are in for a treat. Whether you're hitting the courts yourself or cheering from the stands, the right gear can make all the difference—just ask the players who bundled up in hoodies and sweatpants as the temperatures dropped. Stay tuned for more updates as these athletes chase their championship dreams.