Santa Clara Rec Center

Bio: Maja’s tennis story started at an age of 5. While walking every day near her local tennis courts and watching tennis matches, to asking for her first tennis racket, Maja's exquisite talent and spirit of sport was recognized at an early age by her first coach - her Dad. Soon after winning numerous renowned tennis tournaments in her home country of Croatia, Maja began her professional career as a Junior, and continued her success in Europe and Internationally. Her tennis career was followed by a team of coaches and her family who supported her along the way and from whom she learned the key elements to tennis: humbleness, dedication, patience, and positivity. During these years, Maja had the opportunity to visit numerous countries around the world and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds, many of which are still her friends today. With an injury that paused her professional career, she was pleased by an offer from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where her friend and former European Professional Tennis player established SCAD's first tennis program. SCAD's President Paula Wallace was searching for prestigious athletes and wanted to represent SCAD not only as a No.1 Design School in the USA, but also as the finest USTA Tennis College in the United States. Maja decided to visit the University, and the following year became SCAD's Women Tennis Team Captain. She achieved a historical moment for SCAD by winning the first USTA National Championship Title in 2012. With her warm, joyful and competitive spirit, she became the first SCAD Tennis