Ava Beltran's sibling rivalry, competitive spirit drives elite junior tennis career

Liberty High School's Ava Beltran first picked up a racquet when she was 6 years old at the encouragement of her parents, who wanted her and her brother, Andrew, to give a non-contact sport a try. Now 17, she’s worked her way to becoming one of the top junior players to come out of the Kansas City metro area.

Athletics have been integral in Beltran’s life, nurturing her competitive spirit and grit. She’s played soccer and basketball, and she has a black belt in taekwondo. Friendly competition with her brother, she shared, has also helped elevate her game. Andrew is also a high-performance junior player and rising star who shares the same competitive nature as his older sister.

“Growing up and competing with my younger brother was competitive, to say the least,” Beltran said. “Whether it was seeing who could have the highest blood pressure at the doctor’s office or who had the best forehand, we were always competing. We drove each other to be the best versions of ourselves in every aspect. Yes, things would sometimes get a bit heated, but we always had and will have each other’s backs.”

Beltran, who trains out of Blue Hills Country Club and Genesis Clayview, has won several titles. She’s competed and won USTA Missouri Valley tournaments such as Rally in the Valley as well as national championship events. She won the 2024 Missouri state high school Class 3 singles championship.

Beltran was selected as the 2025 USTA Heart of America Junior Female Player of the Year. She’s also received several sportsmanship awards. Her success comes as no surprise, as she puts in the hard work every day to prepare for high-caliber competition.

“For me, I’m constantly training and preparing,” she said. “But a few months before a high-level tournament, I hone in on my diet, sleep and fitness. As the tournament gets closer, I often play sets or tiebreaks to practice being in a match mindset.”

Off the court, Beltran is a normal teenager who loves spending time with her family and friends and indulging in hobbies like reading, drawing and playing the guitar, which she taught herself to play. On the court, she’s a fierce player who never backs down.

“I’m a very self-motivated person, and I strive to be the best I can be,” Beltran said. “I’m hardworking and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals. I’m vertically challenged, standing proudly at 5-foot-1, so it drove me to work even harder so people would never doubt me.”

Despite all the competition and hard-fought matches, including against her brother, Beltran has found community and lifelong friendships through tennis. And for all she’s given the sport, it’s given some things back to her as well.