Jeremy Giles, HBA’s top singles tennis player, has earned his success through hard work and determination, viewing every match as an opportunity to improve, no matter the result.
Giles’s mindset didn’t appear overnight. He started playing tennis in 7th grade, joining the intermediate team alongside his friends. “I enjoyed playing tennis and I started taking lessons with a teammate before the season,” he said. His love for the game stems from how much it challenges him; for Giles, tennis, is a never-ending pursuit of improvement. “Tennis means a lot to me, I love playing, and I like to constantly improve,” he said. Giles practices at least three hours a day during the week and several hours over the weekend.
Outside of school, Giles has proven himself in USTA tournaments. In October 2025, he won the Punahou USTA L6 Boys 18 and under tournament, defeating OIA Champion Ethan Chun in the final, 6-3, 6-2. Giles’s biggest victory is defeating Aman Dole, who is ranked 2nd for ‘Iolani, 6-3, 6-0, along with defeating Punahou’s number two singles player.
This year at the ILH Clay Benham post season tournament, Giles was seeded seventh, placing him in the ILH championship bracket. Giles’s first game was against Le Jardin, where he went undefeated, 6-0 6-0. On the second day of the tournament, he went up against UH Lab’s Stefan Brajovic, who had beaten Giles earlier in the season, 4-6, 2-6. Giles was determined to redeem himself but he ultimately fell 3-6, 0-6.
Dealing with losses is a lesson Giles will not allow himself to skim over. He recalls losing to Punahou’s number three singles player, a freshman, in front of a large crowd filled with his friends and family. Despite being frustrated in the moment, Giles used the moment to motivate himself to do better. “The most important thing for me is playing one point at a time,” Giles said, focusing on staying present and not letting the score define his mentality. He wills himself to reset, read his opponents’ serve, stay positive, and adjust his footwork.
Looking ahead, Giles’s goals go beyond his personal success. He hopes to recruit more players for HBA’s tennis program and mentor underclassmen as he embarks on his senior year on the varsity team.
