Alycia Parks tied Venus Williams’ record for the fastest serve ever recorded at the US Open when she blasted a 129 mph delivery in 2021. At just 20 years old, she matched a legend’s mark, announcing herself as a force in women’s tennis. But speed alone doesn’t define her story—it’s the family sacrifices, the decision to skip college, and the steady climb from unknown prospect to WTA title winner that makes her journey compelling.
Born and raised in Atlanta before moving to Florida for better training, she represents the new generation of American tennis talent trying to fill the enormous shoes left by Serena and Venus Williams. At 25 years old in 2026, she’s still building her career, but the foundation—powerful serve, strong family support, and competitive fire—is solidly in place.
Quick Facts About Alycia Parks
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alycia Michelle Parks |
| Date of Birth | December 31, 2000 |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Current Residence | Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA |
| Height | 6’1″ (185 cm) |
| Plays | Right-handed, Two-handed backhand |
| Parents | Michael Parks (father), Erica Parks (mother) |
| Siblings | Mikayla Parks (older sister) |
Parents and Family Roots
Alycia was born to Michael Parks and Erica Parks in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother Erica, who works in fashion design, was the first person to notice her daughter’s tennis talent when Alycia was just seven years old. She handed her daughter a racket and took her to the tennis courts, beginning a journey neither could have fully imagined.
Her father Michael was a professional basketball player before dedicating himself completely to coaching his daughters. When he recognized their tennis potential, he made the life-changing decision to become their coach despite having no formal tennis training background.
According to his interview on the Tennis.com podcast featured on various sports sites including WTA‘s official coverage, Michael Parks studied how Venus and Serena Williams trained by watching videos, reading books, and consulting with experienced coaches to fill the gaps in his knowledge.
“I then started looking up certain things with Venus and Serena and trying to learn the technique and things on my own,” Michael explained, showing the dedication he brought to his daughters’ development.
Sister and Early Tennis Partnership
Alycia’s older sister Mikayla Parks, who is 17 months older, also played tennis growing up. The two sisters trained together at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, with Mikayla serving as Alycia’s hitting partner and closest companion during their developmental years.
As their father Michael said: “With a sibling, it means the world.” Having a built-in practice partner who understood the dream and shared the sacrifices made training easier and more effective.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Mikayla and Alycia were viewed as potential successors to Venus and Serena Williams—the next sister duo that could dominate professional tennis. However, Mikayla stopped playing competitive tennis in 2016 due to personal reasons that the family has kept private.
Though Mikayla left competitive tennis, she stayed connected to the sport through business. In 2017, she and Alycia launched a clothing line called “Alyciamikay” (combining both their names), which sells fashionable and athletic wear. Their mother Erica, with her fashion background, helps with the design work.
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Moving to Florida for Better Training
When Alycia was 10 years old, the entire Parks family made a major decision. The USTA (United States Tennis Association) scouted both sisters at a tournament and offered them spots at the USTA National Tennis Campus in Boca Raton, Florida—one of the premier training facilities in America.
Alycia recalled: “When I picked up a racket I always wanted to play professionally, so my parents were like—obviously they saw the potential and they sacrificed a lot. I just remember my parents saying USTA gave them a call and they kind of scouted me and my sister in a tournament, and they wanted us to move to Florida and train with them.”
The family relocated from Atlanta to Florida, with both parents adjusting to a completely new lifestyle to support their daughters’ tennis dreams. This sacrifice—leaving established jobs, friends, and community—showed their commitment to giving their children the best possible chance.
Education and Turning Professional
Alycia attended Locust Grove Elementary School and graduated from high school in 2019. At that point, she faced a major decision: accept one of several college scholarship offers to play tennis at the collegiate level, or turn professional immediately.
She chose to go pro, declining all scholarship offers. This was a risky decision—college tennis provides free education, coaching, facilities, and a safety net if professional tennis doesn’t work out. Going pro meant betting entirely on herself.
Interestingly, Parks played only eight junior events on the ITF circuit and never had an official junior ranking. This unconventional path meant she didn’t have the typical junior resume that most professional players build before turning pro.
Professional Breakthrough
Parks made her WTA Tour debut at the 2021 MUSC Health Open in Charleston, defeating Grace Min in the first round before losing to top seed Ons Jabeur. Later that year at the 2021 US Open, she made headlines by serving at 129 mph—matching Venus Williams’ tournament record for fastest serve.
Her real breakthrough came in February 2023 at the Lyon Open in France. She defeated Julia Grabher, fourth seed Petra Martić, seventh seed Danka Kovinić, and Maryna Zanevska to reach the final. Then, in the championship match, she defeated top seed and home favorite Caroline Garcia 7-6, 7-5—her first career top-5 win and her maiden WTA singles title.
In doubles, she partnered with Taylor Townsend to win the 2023 Cincinnati Masters (Western & Southern Open), a WTA 1000 event—the highest level of tournament below Grand Slams. They defeated third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez in the final.
At the 2024 Australian Open, she reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time, defeating Daria Snigur and 32nd seed Leylah Fernandez before losing to fourth seed and eventual US Open champion Coco Gauff.
Playing Style and Strengths
At 6’1″ (185 cm), Alycia has an ideal frame for modern power tennis. Her biggest weapon is her serve—that 129 mph delivery isn’t just for show, it’s a legitimate weapon that wins her free points regularly.
She plays with a right-handed forehand and two-handed backhand, generating heavy topspin and aggressive pace from both sides. Her game emphasizes power over finesse, with strong groundstrokes and willingness to go for winners.
Hard courts are clearly her best surface—all three of her WTA titles (one singles, two doubles) came on hard courts. She struggles more on clay, where her power game is less effective and points require more patience.
Personal Life and Interests
Alycia currently lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida, with her family. She remains single and focused on her tennis career, keeping her personal life extremely private. Her Instagram account shows mostly tennis content, paid partnerships, and occasional photos with family and friends—no romantic partner has been publicly confirmed.
Outside tennis, she enjoys cooking, rollerblading, and spending time with her two dogs—a Giant Schnauzer and a Jack Russell Terrier. These hobbies provide balance during the intense grind of professional tennis.
She stays active on social media with approximately 52,000 Instagram followers (@alycia.parks) and 4,200 Twitter followers (@TheRealAParks), though she doesn’t post as frequently as some tennis players her age.
Net Worth and Earnings
Exact net worth details of professional tennis players are not publicly disclosed, and earnings can change from season to season. Instead of a fixed number, Alycia Parks’ financial position is better understood through her career prize money and income sources.
According to official WTA records, she has earned over one million dollars in career prize money from singles and doubles matches. This figure represents gross tournament earnings and does not include expenses such as coaching, travel, fitness staff, equipment, and taxes, which players cover independently.
Beyond prize money, she earns income through sponsorship deals, including apparel and footwear with Asics and racket sponsorship with Dunlop. She is also involved in a small business venture, Alyciamikay, a fashion and athletic wear brand she co-founded with her sister, adding an additional source of income outside professional tennis.
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