SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- It's late August in Repentigny, Canada, and the Second Round on center court of the 2023 J300 Repentigny had just begun. This center court featured the No.32 competing against the No. 169 in the ITF junior rankings, and while upsets were never unheard of in tennis, Francesca Pace, ranked No. 32, already asserted herself and took the opening set 6-4 against Raphaelle Leroux.
However, Leroux wasn't going to let this first set stop her. She came back with full power yet grace and took the second set 6-1. Now this was the reason why a No. 169 ITF junior deserved to be playing on this center court, embracing the humidity of Quebec, the place she was raised.
The third set reached 6-6 before heading into a tiebreak, where Leroux closed out the match with a 7-2, advancing to the third round. "That match showed me that I could compete with anyone when I trusted myself. Playing on center court under pressure and staying composed gave me belief—not just in my tennis, but in my mental strength," Leroux said.
Leroux's mental strength continued to be one of her greatest assets, and two years later, she finished her freshman season at UCSB with a 16-match singles winning streak. She was in shock at how much she was capable of and how crucial her mentality was when holding this streak.
Her mentality wasn't always like this, as she admits, when she was first adjusting to college-level tennis and playing for UCSB, she felt like she struggled to find her rhythm. But then she had a realization: "I stopped focusing on outcomes and started trusting my routines," she said.
She went back to the basics, competing point by point instead of focusing on the score and even the match itself. Leroux prioritized her game style over anyone else's style, and that's when it all clicked for her during the mid-season of her freshman year.
Leroux added, "Mentally, I was calm and present, and that allowed me to play freely and confidently under pressure." Her mental approach contributed to the team's success, as they went on to win the 2025 Big West Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
In UCSB's first-round victory over Rice University, Leroux scored one of the singles points. Leroux won the first set 6-3 but lost the second 3-6, but flipped the momentum as she took full control to win the final set 6-0.
Then UCSB went head-to-head with Texas A&M, and while the team lost 1-4 to end their NCAA run, Leroux dominated her singles match against Lucianna Perez–now ranked No. 4 in college tennis–in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, earning the only singles point for the Gauchos. "It was surreal and incredibly motivating," she said, "It made me hungry to keep pushing and to continue earning opportunities like that through hard work and consistency."
Looking back on her ITF junior days, she reflects on how she learned how to handle pressure and adapt quickly against fast-paced, competitive matches. This same care and precision was exactly what she brought in the NCAA Tournament against Rice and Texas A&M as well.
Her doubles experience as a two-time Canadian National Doubles Champion also contributed to this foundation for her collegiate success. Currently in her sophomore season at UCSB, she was crowned the Big West Fall Invite Doubles Champions with her partner My-Anh Holmes.
Leroux added, "Doubles success in the juniors helped me develop communication and tactical thinking, with various partners, which translates perfectly to college tennis where doubles momentum is so important." She and Holmes won this title in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(7-2), signaling what's yet to come in her collegiate career.
Leroux's time at UCSB so far has not only been rewarding for her athletic accomplishments but also for the opportunity to pursue her future career goals at a university renowned for its academic excellence. There were strong science programs that aligned with her interest in taking on the Pre-Med track. She said, "UCSB really stood out to me because it allowed me to pursue excellence on and off the court."
She also notes the support of UCSB's coaching staff, recalling how Coach Simon Thibodeau emphasized that the development both on and off the court is a priority for each of his players. "I felt I could grow as a player while also being supported as a student, and the balance felt right from the beginning," Leroux said, "Simon is amazing at keeping me focused on the right things, either tennis or school."
While college tennis brings a higher level of competition and intensity, Leroux has already learned the value of consistency, discipline, and mental toughness in every match. Even when challenges arise, she always comes back, knowing this is where she is meant to be and can rise to compete at this level.
Another accomplishment Leroux made only one year into UCSB was being selected as the Big West Player of the Week, a recognition of her hard work and dedication on the court. She also received Honorable Mention honors in singles, as well as Honorable Mention in doubles with partner Marie Weissheim. All of these recognitions motivated her to continue improving in both practice and matches, while still staying as grounded and focused as possible in every point.
Thriving Under Pressure Through Discipline and Determination
With a successful rookie start to her collegiate career, Leroux has faced increased pressure to meet those same expectations entering her sophomore year. Despite this, she is entering the new year more prepared after training with Coach Diego Moyano in Florida over winter break, where he encouraged her during moments when she found herself being too hard or negative on herself. "He reminded me that you won't always play your best tennis and that's okay," she added, "He kept emphasizing that things come back naturally, sometimes without you even realizing it."
At only 19 years old, she has learned that improvement isn't linear, and while tennis can be challenging at certain times in her life, it doesn't mean she has to give up. This resilience is helping her currently develop a mindset focused on being kind to herself, showing up with consistent daily fundamentals, and staying coachable while continuing to grow even in uncomfortable areas of her game.
Leroux adds, "I also can't say enough about how important it's been to have Coach Simon in my corner. When things are hard, it's easy to start doubting yourself, and he's been incredibly steady, reminding me of who I am as a player while helping me stay present instead of chasing last year." She's also excited to see what lies ahead in the new season with a new team and what they can accomplish together.
She's not only this intentional on the court but also in the classroom, where she pays attention to balancing her course load with practices and matches. "Tennis has actually helped me academically by teaching me focus, resilience, and how to perform under pressure," she said. Drawing on both her athletic and academic experiences, she hopes to pursue a future career in sports medicine.
She's inspired by her dad, who is a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon and used to be a doctor at the Master 1000 in Montreal for many years. Alongside her personal experience with being an athlete, she has dealt with injuries, recovery, and every other mental aspect of the sport.
"I want to be a doctor who truly understands athletes—not just physically, but emotionally as well—and help them return stronger and healthier," Leroux said.
