Fernandina Beach native Meja Michener is ranked No. 81 nationally in junior tennis, with a 45-18 record and an exclusive Wilson sponsorship built on Nassau County courts.

TennisRecruiting.net lists Michener with seven wins over five-star prospects and a 12-2 mark against four-star opponents, according to a profile by the Nassau Community Press published Sept. 11. Five-star players are ranked 26-75 in their graduating class. Michener also captured the Girls' 14s title at the 2026 American Tennis Association National Championships.

Her latest milestone: a first Level 3 championship in the 12s division at a USTA tournament in Cayce, South Carolina, where she also earned a sportsmanship award. Asked how the tournament went, Michener kept it simple.

"I did good. I won."

Training Splits Time Between Two Continents

Michener started playing tennis in Nassau County around age 3. Her father, Brian, is an American from San Diego with a background in surfing and football. Her mother is Swedish, and that family connection splits Michener's development between two continents. She trains at JTCC-Bolles in Jacksonville on Florida hard courts and plays on red clay in Halmstad, Sweden, when visiting family.

The two environments shape different styles. Michener told the Nassau Community Press that Swedish tennis generally features more spin and higher net clearance, while Florida players tend to hit harder and flatter.

International Play Builds Her Résumé

Her international experience goes beyond Sweden. Michener competed at the IMG Future Stars tournament in Athens, Greece, in April, where 48 of the world's top under-12 players from 25 countries faced off at TATOI Club. She compared the experience to a professional tournament.

That event doubles as a qualifying path to the IMG Academy International Tennis Championship, formerly the Eddie Herr International Tennis Championships, held each November at IMG Academy in Bradenton. The invitation-only tournament draws more than 2,000 junior players from more than 90 countries.

Eddie Herr Finals a Near-Term Goal

Michener has set her sights on it. She told the Nassau Community Press her goal for the rest of 2026 is to reach the finals at Eddie Herr while sharpening her serve and returns. Her favorite shot is the backhand down the line.

Her younger brother, Mathis, also plays tennis and serves as a hitting partner. Asked what she likes most about having him on the court, Michener's answer was pure sibling: "To beat him."

Longer term, Michener aims to earn a professional ranking by age 17 or 18. The IMG Academy International Tennis Championship is held in late November in Bradenton.