EVANSTON, Ill. - Aely Arai, a rising junior, will join Northwestern women’s tennis ahead of the 2026-27 season, the program announced on Tuesday. Arai comes to Evanston after two years at the University of Miami (FL).
“We are thrilled to welcome Aely to our program,” said Head Coach Claire Pollard. “She made an outstanding impression during her visit. Her skill and experience will make an immediate impact on our team. Beyond her talent, Aely’s infectious enthusiasm and positive energy stood out, and we are excited to build around the passion and leadership she brings to our program.”
Arai is coming off a 14-11 singles performance in 2025-26, a season where she saw time at several positions in the Hurricanes’ lineup. Her fall began with a run to the qualifying draw at the ITA All-American Championships, then culminated in a ranked victory over No. 118 Valery Gynina (UF) at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships. After opening dual season with a victory at No. 2 singles, Arai earned the first ITA singles ranking of her career, clocking in at No. 97 nationally.
The Osaka, Japan native also saw action in doubles, where she played mostly at the No. 2 position with a variety of partners. That followed a successful first season in spring 2025, when Arai picked up seven doubles victories during dual season, including a ranked win over then-No. 86 Caroline Driscoll/Valencia Xu (Stanford).
“I chose Northwestern because of the welcoming atmosphere on campus and the incredible people I met throughout the recruiting process,” said Arai on the move. “I’m excited to challenge myself both academically and athletically, and I can’t wait to contribute to the team while continuing to grow as a player and as a person.”