👧 Sophie Himmelreich | Tennis Papers interview, November 2025

“My dream is to become world number 1 and win all the Grand Slams.”

Meet Sophie Himmelreich, Russian girl junior tennis player who lives in Dubai, UAE and competing in U14 tennis category.
Sophie was ranked number 1 in the UAE U12 and she now I competes internationally in ATF, Tennis Europe, and Ten-Pro tournaments.

(Information gathered via an exclusive interview by Tennis Papers).

📘 Sophie Himmelreich | Biography, November 2025

🏙️ Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪

🌟 A dazzling city where ultramodern skyscrapers, luxury, and innovation meet the magic of the desert.
🏖️ Home to icons like the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and endless sandy beaches.
🛍️ Famous for world-class shopping, food, and entertainment, offering something for every taste.
✨ With its futuristic vision, warm hospitality, and unforgettable experiences, Dubai is a city that truly never stops shining!

🎙️Sophie Himmelreich | Interview, November 2025

Hello, introduce yourself please.
My name is Sophie Himmelreich. I’m almost 13 years old, born on November 27, 2012.
I’m Russian, and I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

What languages do you speak?
I speak English and Russian, and I’m also learning a bit of Arabic because I live in Dubai.

At what age did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was 3 and a half years old.

Are there other tennis players in your family?
No one plays professionally, but my family loves tennis and supports me a lot.

In which club do you train?
I train at Wessels Tennis Academy in Dubai.

Who are your coaches?
My main coach is Peter Wessels, and I also train with Irina Wessels and Tejas Shevde.

What is your weekly training routine?
I usually train around 12 hours of individual lessons per week, plus 2–3 hours of sparring and fitness sessions.
When I prepare for tournaments, I can train even more!

As an athlete, what is your greatest quality and what do you need to improve?
My greatest qualities are that I’m very positive, never give up, and always fight for every point.
I’m working on improving my mental focus and consistency, especially in long matches.

What is your junior category and your national ranking?
I play in the U14 category and was ranked #1 in the UAE Under-12.
Now I compete internationally in ATF, Tennis Europe, and Ten-Pro tournaments.

What is your best success?
I’ve won several Ten-Pro tournaments — in Dubai (twice), Serbia, Turkey, and Egypt.
I also became champion in doubles and runner-up in singles at the ATF Amman Tournament (Category 2),
and doubles champion at ATF Dubai (Category 1).
One of my proudest moments was winning the Masters in Road to Roland Garros and the Masters in Road to Mubadala in the UAE.

In which countries have you already played tournaments?
I’ve played in UAE, Serbia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Russia, and Montenegro, and soon I’ll play in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, and Indonesia.

Do you have any sponsors?
Yes — I’m proudly supported by Yonex UAE.

What is your goal for 2026?
To reach the Top 10 in Asia U14, improve my international ranking, and represent the UAE national team.

What is your tennis dream?
My dream is to become world number 1 and win all the Grand Slams.

Who are your favorite tennis players?
I really like Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz because they are powerful, passionate, and always play with great energy.

What do you like to do outside of tennis?
I enjoy drawing, swimming, spending time with my dog Bonya, and traveling to new countries for tournaments.

To which people would you like to dedicate this interview?
I want to dedicate it to my family, my coaches, and everyone who supports me in my tennis journey.

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

🎾 Sophie Himmelreich | Tennis playing, November 2025

💪 Sophie Himmelreich | Physical training, November 2025