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TheLotto Elite Hot 100 lists are published each month, and the October Hot 100 lists feature the 100 boys and girls who most improved their rankings during the month of September. You can find out more about the Lotto Elite Hot 100 - and how the lists are calculated - by reading here.

The latest lists are available here:

• Boys' Hot 100
• Girls' Hot 100

We talked to some of the top performers:

Georgia Garrett (Tacoma, Washington)

Georgia Garrett (WTN: 24.2) now stands at No. 236 in the Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings, rising from the 267th position.

Three-Star Senior Georgia Garrett
© Contributed Photo

The 4-foot-11 left-handed three star posted a recent 6-2 singles record. Garrett advanced to the finals of the girls 18s L4 Vancouver (Washington) Tennis Club tournament; and went 3-1 at the L2 Pacific Cup Intersectional Team event, held in Beaverton, Oregon.

“I started playing better when I realized it is never a good idea to play safe,” said Garrett, a senior at Curtis Senior High School in Tacoma. “My mindset is, ‘I will never win if I play safe.’ If I am to lose, I would lose with a fight and not hand the opponent a win. I changed my mindset because I know I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I also started using a towel during tournaments, because I am a high-energy person, and the towel is my ritual to slow down and think.”

Garrett plans on competing this year for her Curtis High team. She played her freshman year and finished third at the state tournament. Academically, Garrett is a member of the National Honor Society, and maintains a 3.90 grade-point average while taking honors and Advanced Placement classes.

“I have thought about college a lot,” Garrett said. “What I look for in a college is a passion for tennis, balanced with academics. Since I started tennis, I have wanted to be part of a team. I can talk to anyone and have fun. More than anything, I love tennis, but I love it more when I can play with a team. The joy of supporting others, and being supported, is the best feeling in tennis.”

Career-wise, Garrett hopes to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. She volunteers at the Tacoma General Hospital and assists in the surgery waiting room. Garrett said volunteering in a hospital has given her a feel for the medical field.

The versatile Garrett started photographing her chickens by posting the pictures on greeting cards. She registered for a Washington state business license and sells the cards in local stores. Additionally, Garrett volunteered at an exotic and avian animal hospital.

Garrett trains with Ryan Paul and Callan Peterson of the Tacoma Lawn Tennis Club. She is working with her coaches on her serve, especially on mixing up and the placement of the service.

“My game is gritty and full of shot variety,” Garrett said. “I am a strategic player and I am always mixing it up to throw off players. I have fast footwork and good defense. I can get across the court fast with these short legs.

“I am different from other players because I can play both singles and doubles. Typically, other people have a difference in ratings between singles and doubles, but mine is very similar. When I practice, I make every hour count by working hard. I never get mentally tired or worn out playing tennis. I have a passion for this sport, and I do things off the court that benefit my game. My mom (Amanda Garrett) is an avid cook and takes care of my diet, which is well balanced.”

Amanda and her late husband, James, adopted their daughter when she was 3. Born in China, the younger Garrett was given three options for sports by her mom: swimming, running, and tennis. Garrett participated in a couple of tennis camps as a toddler and got back into the sport when she was 11.

“Georgia has persevered in whatever she does,” her mom said. “She is strong-willed and has always bounced back from the most difficult situations. I never have to tell her to do her homework. She is completely self-motivated and has developed workouts on her own. She trains off the court four days a week, mixing in core and aerobic exercises.”

Preston Lubiniecki (Berwyn, Pennsylvania)

Preston Lubiniecki (WTN: 21.5) is now ranked for the first time in the top-100 of his class in the Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings.

The 5-foot-10 right-handed four star now is ranked No. 91, rising from 117th. Lubiniecki went undefeated at 8-0 in the Dominant Duo team competition events, going 4-0 in each tournament. He played No. 2 singles in Manchester, Massachusetts; and No. 1 at Quakers Town, Pennsylvania.

Four-Star Sophomore Preston Lubiniecki
© Contributed Photo

“I recently started running cross country every day for my school, which has really improved my endurance,” Lubiniecki said of his recent success. “After running 6 miles per day, I train for tennis, so I started to adapt to a more physical environment. Some days are exhausting. Additionally, over the summer I trained a lot to compete better at tournaments.”

Lubiniecki is a sophomore at Episcopal Academy in Berwyn. He did play on his high school team last year, but was unable to complete the campaign due to ankle surgery. Lubiniecki was still the recipient of the John T. McCullough Cup, as the team’s best singles player.

“I definitely want to play college tennis,” Lubiniecki said. “I am looking for a program that has a strong tennis program with a positive tennis environment, and also with a strong academic course of study.”

Lubiniecki comes from a tennis-playing family, including three brothers involved in the sport. Oldest brother, Basil (18), attends Emory University and plays club tennis. Ralphie (17) is a senior at Conestoga High School and competes on the school team. Tristan (14) also attends Conestoga and currently plays USTA tournaments. He plans to become a member of the school’s squad. Their mom, Min Lubiniecki, competed at the USTA Nationals in 2017. Their dad, Gregory, serves as the chauffeur.

“Preston has achieved so much in the past several months despite several setbacks in the beginning of the year,” Lubiniecki’s parents said. “He was out for several months in the spring because of surgery and missed many competitive tournaments. Once he recovered at the start of summer, he started training very hard to return to his prior tennis level. We are so proud of him.

“Maintaining a positive outlook can be challenging when events are not working out as one expects. Tennis has helped Preston develop self-confidence, as the performance is individual. He also enjoys learning from other players and coaches.”

Lubiniecki does train hard in running and tennis. As mentioned, he goes from cross country running to the tennis court.

“Even though I feel exhausted, I continue to push myself.” Lubiniecki said. “This is how I improve my game. Footwork is critical to a good game and I do drills of footwork exercises. These will help me with my speed on the court.

“Handling myself at the net is also important. Shots from the net can be difficult to defend against, and challenging to execute well. They require a lot of practice, and consistency is a must. My game style is a combination of counterpuncher and aggressive baseliner.”

Evelyn Whiteside (San Antonio, Texas)

Evelyn Whiteside (WTN: 22.4) climbed to No. 152 in the Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings, moving up from the 174th slot.

The 5-foot-6 four-star right-hander posted an 11-1 record, winning two 18s L4 tournaments along the way. Whiteside captured the Bad Dawg event in Argyle, Texas; along with the Bay Area Racquet Club tournament in Houston, Texas.

Four-Star Junior Evelyn Whiteside
© Contributed Photo

“I credit the consistent training I’m putting in and my hard work on court to my improved ranking,” said Whiteside, a junior at Alamo Heights High School. “My coaches have always told me the results will come if I show up every day and work to do the right things. I’m seeing that now and it’s been really encouraging. I have learned I don’t need to think about my current ranking or rating. I only need to focus on improving my game and playing my best tennis, and then let the results come with that.”

Whiteside trains with Mark Hilderbrand of the San Antonio Country Club, and with Adrian Valdez of the San Antonio Tennis Academy. She is working with Hilderbrand on court management and ball speed, ball height and direction, and how to use it against various opponents.

“I like to play an all-court style of tennis that doesn’t allow my opponent to ever get comfortable,” Whiteside said. “I utilize different ball speeds, heights, and spins to craft and dictate points. I am a patiently aggressive player. I love setting up points off my backhand, getting into court rallies, and then either baiting them into going for something or changing the ball on them. I also enjoy ending points inside the court, after earning my shot.”

At Alamo Heights High School, Whiteside has seven Advanced Placement courses to her credit. She is also on track to be an Advanced Placement Scholar at the end of the current school year.

“I have definitely begun to look at colleges, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue my tennis career,” said Whiteside. “My goal is not simply to play college tennis, but to excel and win at the collegiate level. I love competing and know that my best tennis is in front of me. I’m looking for a program that will help me continue to develop my tennis while pushing me to the next level. I would love to play singles as well as doubles. I’ve won doubles titles with eight different players and enjoy the problem-solving and communication that comes with the partnerships.”

Born in Houston, Whiteside began to take joint tennis lessons in the first grade with her mom, Mary Pat Whiteside. The younger Whiteside (age 6) picked up the sport after only three months of lessons. A coach in Houston encouraged her, and she has been dedicated to tennis ever since.

“We feel the success Evelyn has experienced is the result of her consistent training schedule as well as her dedication, determination, and work ethic,” Mary Pat and Ryan Whiteside said about their daughter. “As we’ve witnessed her entire life, when Evelyn sets a goal for herself, she will reach it.”

Valdez also shared this comment about his student: “I venture to say the characteristic that differentiates Evelyn from most is her leadership. She motivates and inspires others through her strong work ethic, which creates a healthy academy for other players to work harder.”

Whiteside elaborated from a personal viewpoint about what distinguishes her from other players.

“Something that distinguishes me from most high-level tennis players is my focus and intensity during my time on the court,” Whiteside said. “I am in class seven hours a day, so my tennis training has to work around my school schedule. I wake up at 6 a.m. most mornings to get a training session in before school starts. I have learned never to take a training opportunity for granted. I always want to improve, and I take coaching and feedback to heart.”

Agastya Singh (Frisco, Texas)

Agastya Singh (WTN: 24.6) now stands at No. 223 in the latest Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings, up from the 257th slot.

The 5-foot-7 right-handed three star has recorded a 7-0 record and won two 18s tournaments along the way. Singh captured the L4 Bad Dawg event in Argyle, Texas; and then came out on top in the San Antonio Tennis Association Junior Open.

Three-Star Sophomore Agastya Singh
© Contributed Photo

“I have better focus during matches,” Singh said about his rise in the rankings. “I’ve improved my fitness and honed skills like my serve or footwork, and my mental attitude has improved.”

Singh is a sophomore at Lone Star High School in Frisco. He does not compete for his school team, but tries to play USTA, UTR, and ITF events regularly. Singh is an “A” student and is going for the board of review for Eagle Scouts. He is also an excellent swimmer and guitar player.

“I am planning to pursue colleges, using tennis and trying to work toward admission to Division I colleges,” Singh said about his future plans.

Singh trains with two coaches, Dave Licker of Lakes Tennis Academy in Frisco, and Mark Voss of the Courts of McKinney, Texas. He is working with his coaches on footwork, recovery, and new skills to build a point. Singh also is changing his first serve to improve on speed and placement.

“My game is aggressive,” Singh said. “I try to build the point initially by depth, and then pick a side to attack.

“I have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sometimes it works in my favor, as I could be very unpredictable and surprise opponents. I have a one-handed backhand, which my friends say is ‘very sweet at times.’”

His parents are Hari Om Singh and Akansha Chauhan. Singh said he tried many sports early-on, but slowly began to like hitting balls. He also said there is less injury in the sport of tennis.

“We went to a lot of therapy for his ADHD, but that did not help much,” his parents said. “We discussed with the doctor about his strength in tennis. He was amazed and he mentioned that could be best for him as he needed to pay attention to every ball.

“He has always been goal oriented. If he sets a goal and decides to do it, he works really hard for it. He makes a lot of mistakes, but the next day he goes out and fights with the problems.”

Presented by Lotto Elite

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Lotto Elite is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Lotto Elite Hot 100.

It's no coincidence that nearly 200 professional players represent the Lotto brand on the ATP and WTA tours, making it the third most visible brand behind only Nike and adidas, respectively. The Italian design and performance features make Lotto product highly sought-after at every level of competition.

The heritage of Lotto Tennis is rich with Grand Slam and Davis Cup champions, from Wimbledon Champion John Newcombe and Italian Davis Cup Champion Tonino Zugarelli, to Grand Slam Champions Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker.

Lotto Elite is a preferred pricing program designed around and for the coach and player, not the brand. We don't think a ranking or rating defines you as a player. We think your grit, determination, love of the grind, attitude and so much more, both on and off the court, define you as a person and makes you Elite.

This is why we wanted to partner with the Hot 100 list. We believe this group of players embody what it means to be Elite. Whether you're a 2-star or Blue Chip recruit, being on this list means you put yourself out there, went for it, and accomplished a goal. Keep Grinding.

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About James Hill

James Hill is the Assistant Sports Information Director at Trinity University in San Antonio and a freelance writer. He has covered all levels of tennis competition.