👧 Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain | Tennis Papers interview, September 2025

“My biggest dream is to represent Malaysia in major tournaments.”

Meet Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain, Malaysian girl, talent junior tennis player who lives in Malacca, Malaysia and competing in U12 tennis category.
Adelia is currently ranked #6 in Malaysia in her category and compets in international tournaments.

(Information gathered via an exclusive interview by Tennis Papers)

📘 Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain | Biography, September 2025

🏠 Residence | Malacca, Malaysia

🌍 Melaka (Malacca) is a historic city on Malaysia’s southwest coast.
🏛️ Rich in heritage, with colonial architecture, Dutch and Portuguese forts, and the UNESCO-listed old town.
🚤 Known for its riverfront, vibrant cafés, night markets, and cuisine mixing Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European influences.
🌳 Melaka also has parks and nearby beaches where families can walk, relax, and enjoy warm weather.

🎙️Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain | Interview, September 2025

Hello, introduce yourself please.
Hi! I’m Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain, but everyone just calls me Adelia! I’m from Melaka (Malacca), Malaysia. I’m still 10 years old, and my 11th birthday is coming up on December 9th, 2025! I’m in Standard 5 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Rumput, Melaka. Guess what? Even though I’m 10, I am already competing in the 12U category because in Malaysia, we follow the birth year!

At what age did you start playing tennis?
I only started playing seriously when I was 7 years old. Before that, I didn’t even know much about tennis! I first got into it when I was introduced to the school tennis club, that’s when all the fun began!

Are there other tennis players in your family?
Yes! My elder brother, Ayser Zarif, was actually the first one to play. My mum and dad never played before, but after my brother and I started our proper lessons, they picked it up too! But they only play up to Green ball, yellow was too fast for them.

In which club do you train tennis?
I train with the Malacca Tennis Association (MLTA) Elite Tennis Programme and it’s super cool! but alternatively, I’m still having personal coaching lessons and I still tag along with my school tennis club, too.

Who is your tennis coach?
Wow, I’ve had so many amazing coaches since I first picked up a racket! They all helped me get to where I am today, and I’m super thankful for every single one of them. A huge shout-out to Cikgu Seliza, Coach Firdaus, Coach Harris, Coach Syukor, Coach Vasu, Coach Fahmi, and Coach Alan! Right now, my personal training sessions are with Coach Asyraf, and he’s helping me prepare for the next level!

How many hours a week do you train tennis and do physical training?
It’s tricky because I have to go to school in both the morning and the afternoon! But I still manage to fit in 10-12 hours of on-court training per week, spread across 4 days. Sometimes, when a tournament is around the corner, I add a few more hours of training. For my physical training, I run on the treadmill and do weight exercises at home!

What is your junior tennis category and your national tennis ranking?
I play in the G12U category. In the recent National Junior Championship, I managed to secure a semifinalist medal. Overall, I’m ranked 6th in all of Malaysia! I’m working hard to move up!

What are your best tennis results?
I’ve played in more than 90 tournaments since 2023! The one I remember most is the MBPJ-Milo Junior Tennis Championship 2025 in Selangor. I had a few matches where I actually cried on court before winning the match, but then I secured the runner-up medal! That felt like a huge win!

Over the past 3 years, I’m happy with my achievements! I’ve been playing in so many tournaments, over 90 since 2023! Here’s my medal count so far:

• 2023 (10U Category): What a year! I grabbed 5 Champion titles, 2 Runners-up, and 17 times Semifinalist!
• 2024 (10U Category): I kept the momentum going with another 5 Champion titles, 4 Runners-up, and 8 Semifinalists!
• 2025 (12U Category): I moved up a category this year, and I’m already doing great! So far, I’ve won 2 Champion titles, 4 Runners-up, and 8 Semifinalists!

In which countries have you already participated in tennis tournaments?
In the last 3 years, we’ve traveled all over Malaysia for state, national, and even international matches! I also got the chance to play in Haytai, Thailand once, it was so fun to travel for tennis!

Do you have any sponsors?
Yes, I do! Babolat Malaysia helps me out with some of my tennis equipment through M4 Sport Sdn Bhd. I’m so thankful!
Back in 2023, for about a year and a half, I was appointed as the first Wilson Social Media Persona for Wilson Malaysia to inspire young talents to venture into tennis.

What tennis racket do you play with?
I absolutely love my Babolat Pure Drive, 11th Gen racket! It’s the best! I used to play with Wilson V9 Junior before moving up.

What is your tennis dream?
Right now, my short-term dream is to be in the top 2 for the National 12U category and keep moving up the rankings! Then, I want to play in more international tournaments, maybe even in Southeast Asia Region! But my biggest, biggest dream is to represent Malaysia in major tournaments like the ATF. I want to stand on that podium, hear my country’s anthem, and make everyone back home feel proud. I want to show all the younger players that if a girl from Melaka can do it, they can too!

Who are your favorite tennis players?
I have a few favorites! On the men’s side, I really look up to Jannik Sinner because he’s so strong mentally and never gives up on any point. On the women’s side, I love watching Iga Swiątek because her energy and topspin are amazing! But my ultimate favorite is Roger Federer because he plays so beautifully and is always such a gentleman on the court.

What do you like to do outside of tennis?
Even though tennis is my main thing, I have other fun hobbies too! I really love art, so I spend time drawing lots of things, it helps me relax my mind after a tough practice. Sometimes I even sing my favorite songs, usually when no one else is around! But the best is when I get to hang out with my friends. We laugh, talk about school, and just do silly stuff. It’s important to have fun outside of tennis too!

Thanks a lot Adelia!
Tennis Papers wishes you the best in your tennis life 💜🩷

🎾 Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain | Tennis playing, September 2025

💪 Adelia Zahra Mohd Zulkarnain | Physical training, September 2025