With the summer tennis season well underway, Middlesex Tennis Communications Lead Jane Lees sat down with Ewa Stojsavljevic to discuss a parent’s journey of supporting a promising young tennis player.
Ewa’s daughter, Mika Stojsavljevic, has enjoyed a remarkable rise through the junior ranks and is now beginning to make her mark on the professional stage. Here, Ewa reflects on the highs, challenges and lessons learned along the way.
🔔 Getting Started
Jane Lees (JL): When did Mika first pick up a tennis racquet, and what attracted her to the sport?
Ewa Stojsavljevic (ES): Mika started playing at The Park Club when she was five years old before moving to Ealing Lawn Tennis Club. We have four children, and Mika’s older sister Anna has severe disabilities. We always felt it was important that the children had opportunities to enjoy different sports and activities, helping them cope with the pressures and stresses that can come with family life. They all tried a range of sports including tennis, swimming, hockey, skiing and gymnastics.
JL: At what point did you realise tennis could become more than a recreational activity?
ES: It wasn’t really our decision—it was Mika’s. Around the age of 12 she decided she wanted to give tennis a serious try. We were fortunate to have Andrew Lewandowski as her coach. He guided us from the beginning when Mika was 8 years old, helped us understand the pathway and gave us confidence in the decisions we were making. We also made a conscious decision to stick with one coach and build a trusting relationship, which made those early years feel very well supported.
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🌟 The Journey
JL: Looking back, what have been the biggest milestones in Mika’s development?
ES: There have been so many. Going to the Loughborough Academy at 13 was a huge step and exposed her to the highest level of junior tennis. Playing her first Wimbledon at 14 was another special moment. Then came qualifying for her first US Open and competing in all four junior Grand Slams in the same year, which happened much sooner than we ever expected.
Winning the US Open Junior title at 15 was incredible. More recently, representing Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup and helping the team qualify for the Finals, as well as receiving her honours number, have been unforgettable experiences. Each milestone has brought valuable lessons and opportunities.
JL: How has tennis shaped Mika as a person?
ES: She’s still very young, but over the past few years she’s matured enormously. She’s become even more determined and her love for tennis continues to grow.
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👨👩👧 Life as a tennis family
JL: What does life behind the scenes look like for your family?
ES: The sacrifices have been enormous, but we aren’t a typical tennis family. With four children and Anna’s additional needs, Mika often had to become very independent from a young age because I couldn’t always travel with her. Sometimes my parents would step in to help.
Things changed significantly when Mika joined the Loughborough Academy. She had access to world-class training while still attending school, both in person and online when travelling. She achieved excellent GCSE results, which was incredibly challenging alongside her tennis commitments.
She’s now preparing for her A-levels with A&J Education and will sit them next year. At no stage did we consider leaving education behind. School has always been just as important to us as tennis, and Mika has always felt the same way.
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💪 Learning Through Tennis
JL: What lessons has tennis taught Mika?
ES: The biggest lesson is never to give up. After every storm there is sunshine, so keep going.
JL: What are you most proud of beyond rankings and results?
ES: I’m proud of how she navigates such a difficult sport and the adult world she has been exposed to at such a young age. She takes responsibility for her actions, learns from mistakes and deals with the consequences when things don’t go to plan. She’s also incredibly organised, which helps enormously.
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🎾 The Support Network
JL: Who has played the biggest role in Mika’s development?
ES: Andrew Lewandowski laid the foundations. He coached Mika until she moved to Loughborough and instilled the habits, work ethic and mindset that have helped her throughout her journey.
There have been so many others too. George Mathiou at Ealing, where Mika trained in squads, has been fantastic. Hiroko Craven was always there to help in any weather—rain, snow or extreme heat. I think she even played with Mika once while recovering from a fractured toe because she didn’t want to cancel. We are incredibly grateful.
Shola, Monica, Flavia, Steve Green and Rob have all played important roles in her development.
JL: What role have Ealing Lawn Tennis Club and Middlesex Tennis played?
ES: Ealing was like a second home. Mika spent so much of her childhood there and loved every minute.
Middlesex Tennis has also been hugely important. We remember every county age group, every trip and every competition. The county environment provides unique opportunities for players to learn with coaches on court. Monica and Flavia always made those experiences special, and we will always be grateful for the opportunities Middlesex Tennis and its coaches gave Mika.
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🏆 Looking Ahead
JL: What are Mika’s ambitions for the future?
ES: They’re quite simple: to be the best version of herself, to take pride in whatever she does and to be grateful for the opportunities she has.
JL: How do you help her stay grounded?
ES: We simply love and support her through the highs and lows. We talk a lot, laugh a lot and enjoy spending time together whenever possible.
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❤️ Reflections as a Parent
JL: What has been your proudest moment as a tennis parent?
ES: There isn’t one specific moment. I’m proud that Mika keeps going no matter what. I’m proud that she’s becoming a wonderful young woman who has seen the world and experienced more than most people her age. Most of all, I’m proud that she appreciates the opportunities tennis has given her.
JL: What advice would you give to other tennis parents?
ES: Find a coach you trust and stick with them. Don’t compare your child to others. If you’re unsure about something, speak to county coaches who have a wealth of experience and will advise in your child’s best interests.
Don’t rush. Don’t panic if your child doesn’t win nationals at 10, 12 or 14 years old. Those milestones aren’t what ultimately matter. What matters is their transition into adult tennis.
Keep them healthy, manage training loads appropriately for their age and development, let them play other sports, and communicate regularly with their coach.
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🎤 Finally…
JL: What has it meant to see Mika representing Middlesex and progressing through the county pathway?
ES: Mika absolutely loved playing for Middlesex. As I mentioned earlier, it’s a unique opportunity to have coaches on court and learn so much from them.
It’s also wonderful to be part of a team. Tennis can be a very lonely sport, so having the chance to share the highs and lows with teammates is incredibly special. Middlesex coaches always make a huge effort to support and encourage the players.
Parents learn a lot too. You have to trust and support the captain’s decisions and understand that team sport is different from individual competition.
For our family, county tennis created some of our most treasured memories. I used to bring our other children along and we’d make family trips out of the County Cup weekends. They were very special times and memories we’ll always cherish. 🎾💙
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Following her quarter final appearance at the Lexus Birmingham Open, Mika was given a wildcard to this week’s HSBC Championships.
