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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Beyond the Baseline: Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher
2/26/2025 | Women's Tennis
With a vision for the future, Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher found her match in Ole Miss.
With roots in La Perche, France, a true competitor was discovered overseas. Over 4,000 miles away, Oxford, Miss., had never crossed Leclercq-Fichers mind. A town that will be home for the next four years and beyond, competing for the Ole Miss women's tennis team.
Starting her freshman year during a global pandemic, Leclercq-Fichers lifestyle made a drastic change among the world's most dramatic times. Nonetheless, she has made the most of her time stateside and had a remarkable journey despite the challenges along the way.
In years prior to Ole Miss, she was an acclaimed runner-up with France at the 2017 U14 Europa Cup in San Remo, Italy, and competed for France at the 2019 Junior Fed Cup in Orlando, Fla., going undefeated in round robin doubles play as she led her country to a top five team finish.
Memory Lane
Leclercq-Ficher's athletic journey did not begin with tennis. Her first love originated in the equine world, riding and training horses with her family.
For her family, equestrianism was a deep-rooted love. Her father, Cyril Leclercq, had the skills to go pro, and wanted to instill that same level of talent into his daughter.
"He put me into equestrian, and I loved it," Leclercq-Ficher said. "After a while, there was too much pressure because he wanted me to go and be great because he didn't."
After a while, the pressure to follow in her father's footsteps took the joy away from the sport. Her best friend, who competed in equestrian with her, introduced her to tennis. She said she immediately fell in love with the game. The time came for her to create her own path.
"I remember every time I would have a practice I would run to the facility," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I just loved it."
Leclercq-Ficher felt at home on the court, a place where one must focus on themselves and the fluorescent ball. It became the sport that made her feel as though she could accomplish anything that came her way.
She then moved to the French countryside where her grandmother resided and began to concentrate solely on her tennis skills. The young tennis player soon would develop into a top 100 ITF world junior, and that was only the beginning.
Point: Oxford
At the start of her collegiate career, a pivotal point in world history was colliding at the same time.
Despite the challenges and risks of the COVID-19 virus, Leclercq-Ficher made the jump to the United States.
"I had no idea what Ole Miss was at first," Leclercq-Ficher said. "The buildings, facilities, I had no idea. It was a feeling and the coaches. I felt that they had a vision for my game that other places didn't have."
Oxford's small town feel brought a sense of community and belonging to Leclercq-Ficher when she first arrived on campus. She said the people are unlike any other college town she's traveled to in her days competing.
"There's something special about this place that is different from the rest."
Leclercq-Ficher, herself, is different from the rest. She started her NCAA journey strong during her freshman year, as she accumulated 13 singles wins and tacked on 15 doubles throughout the season. Head coach Mark Beyers believed in Leclercq-Ficher's development enough to set her at the No. 2 singles slot her entire freshman campaign.
Sophomore year elevated the stat sheet even more. She appeared in all 14 matches for the Rebels, tallying 10 more wins to her doubles career total. After a strong freshman season, Leclercq-Ficher competed primarily at No. 1 singles and doubles.
Resiliency: Just Means More
The path to success has not always an easy one for Leclercq-Ficher. In the early years of her Ole Miss career, she suffered from an injury that forced her to take a step back.
"I've been through two hip injuries and a lot of physical problems," Leclercq-Ficher said.
Times reached a low point for Leclercq-Ficher, who's injuries had forced her to step down from her savored first slot position in singles and had a slower year in the record books. Without a doubt, she kept fighting to prove why she came to Ole Miss in the first place: to compete at the highest level.
"I'm still here," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I still fight when I have tough injuries. It will always get better. Count on your people around you, they will always make it better."
Fight back is just what Leclercq-Ficher did. She led the team in dual match victories in doubles with 11, going 11-7 overall. Known for her marvelous three set comebacks, she held strong to help Ole Miss clinch its first ranked victory of the 2023-2024 season over No. 34 LSU.
With time and maturity over the years, Leclercq-Ficher has been a highlight for the Rebels in the doubles position.
Over time, a partnership blossomed between Leclercq-Ficher and Ludmila Kareisová. Both part of Beyers' 2021 signing class, the pair have been playing together since 2021. It took two years for a true connection to spark between the two, but once paired together in doubles, it took off from there.
"We just have the spirit," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I get really fired up when she is next to me."
Kareisová is that fire for Leclercq-Ficher on the court.
Their practice and chemistry started to pay off in their junior season, where they held down court two together. They came away with eight wins as a tandem that season, all on court two, earning the second-most wins among Ole Miss pairings for the year.
Leclercq-Ficher said the duos attitude is what leads them to success.
"Especially in college doubles you need to have a good attitude," she said. "So many of the matches we won were just because of our attitude."
To this day, it's still customary to see the pair together, laughing and smiling.
"There is a special bond when we play together," Leclercq-Ficher said. "It is rare to find when you have two people get so fired up that it brings the best out of them."
In the 2024-25 season, Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová returned to the first position in doubles and started the season undefeated. She pair managed to make it all the way to the NCAA Individual Championship during the fall campaign, becoming Ole Miss' first doubles tandem to do so Arianne Hartono and Alexa Bortles did so in 2018. Leclercq-Ficher made it as a singles competitor as well, joining Kareisová and Lucie Petruzelova.
With conference season underway, Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová have established themselves as Ole Miss' court one duo and have a 5-2 dual record thus far.
"It is going to be a good year for us at home and on the road."
On and Off the Court:
Being a true senior, leadership follows closely with that role.
On the court, she has kept a top half lineup spot since freshman year.
Leclercq-Ficher has also been recognized for multiple awards, including Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Scholar (2024), CSC Academic All-District (2024), SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll (2023, 2024) and ITA Scholar Athlete (2023).
For her last season as an Ole Miss Rebel, Leclercq-Ficher was named captain, alongside her doubles partner Kareisová. The duo continues their bond on and off the court through their leadership, determination, and love for Ole Miss and its tennis program.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
FOLLOW THE REBELS ON SOCIAL
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Also, follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
With roots in La Perche, France, a true competitor was discovered overseas. Over 4,000 miles away, Oxford, Miss., had never crossed Leclercq-Fichers mind. A town that will be home for the next four years and beyond, competing for the Ole Miss women's tennis team.
Starting her freshman year during a global pandemic, Leclercq-Fichers lifestyle made a drastic change among the world's most dramatic times. Nonetheless, she has made the most of her time stateside and had a remarkable journey despite the challenges along the way.
In years prior to Ole Miss, she was an acclaimed runner-up with France at the 2017 U14 Europa Cup in San Remo, Italy, and competed for France at the 2019 Junior Fed Cup in Orlando, Fla., going undefeated in round robin doubles play as she led her country to a top five team finish.
Memory Lane
Leclercq-Ficher's athletic journey did not begin with tennis. Her first love originated in the equine world, riding and training horses with her family.
For her family, equestrianism was a deep-rooted love. Her father, Cyril Leclercq, had the skills to go pro, and wanted to instill that same level of talent into his daughter.
"He put me into equestrian, and I loved it," Leclercq-Ficher said. "After a while, there was too much pressure because he wanted me to go and be great because he didn't."
After a while, the pressure to follow in her father's footsteps took the joy away from the sport. Her best friend, who competed in equestrian with her, introduced her to tennis. She said she immediately fell in love with the game. The time came for her to create her own path.
"I remember every time I would have a practice I would run to the facility," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I just loved it."
Leclercq-Ficher felt at home on the court, a place where one must focus on themselves and the fluorescent ball. It became the sport that made her feel as though she could accomplish anything that came her way.
She then moved to the French countryside where her grandmother resided and began to concentrate solely on her tennis skills. The young tennis player soon would develop into a top 100 ITF world junior, and that was only the beginning.
Point: Oxford
At the start of her collegiate career, a pivotal point in world history was colliding at the same time.
Despite the challenges and risks of the COVID-19 virus, Leclercq-Ficher made the jump to the United States.
"I had no idea what Ole Miss was at first," Leclercq-Ficher said. "The buildings, facilities, I had no idea. It was a feeling and the coaches. I felt that they had a vision for my game that other places didn't have."
Oxford's small town feel brought a sense of community and belonging to Leclercq-Ficher when she first arrived on campus. She said the people are unlike any other college town she's traveled to in her days competing.
"There's something special about this place that is different from the rest."
Leclercq-Ficher, herself, is different from the rest. She started her NCAA journey strong during her freshman year, as she accumulated 13 singles wins and tacked on 15 doubles throughout the season. Head coach Mark Beyers believed in Leclercq-Ficher's development enough to set her at the No. 2 singles slot her entire freshman campaign.
Sophomore year elevated the stat sheet even more. She appeared in all 14 matches for the Rebels, tallying 10 more wins to her doubles career total. After a strong freshman season, Leclercq-Ficher competed primarily at No. 1 singles and doubles.
Resiliency: Just Means More
The path to success has not always an easy one for Leclercq-Ficher. In the early years of her Ole Miss career, she suffered from an injury that forced her to take a step back.
"I've been through two hip injuries and a lot of physical problems," Leclercq-Ficher said.
Times reached a low point for Leclercq-Ficher, who's injuries had forced her to step down from her savored first slot position in singles and had a slower year in the record books. Without a doubt, she kept fighting to prove why she came to Ole Miss in the first place: to compete at the highest level.
"I'm still here," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I still fight when I have tough injuries. It will always get better. Count on your people around you, they will always make it better."
Fight back is just what Leclercq-Ficher did. She led the team in dual match victories in doubles with 11, going 11-7 overall. Known for her marvelous three set comebacks, she held strong to help Ole Miss clinch its first ranked victory of the 2023-2024 season over No. 34 LSU.
With time and maturity over the years, Leclercq-Ficher has been a highlight for the Rebels in the doubles position.
Over time, a partnership blossomed between Leclercq-Ficher and Ludmila Kareisová. Both part of Beyers' 2021 signing class, the pair have been playing together since 2021. It took two years for a true connection to spark between the two, but once paired together in doubles, it took off from there.
"We just have the spirit," Leclercq-Ficher said. "I get really fired up when she is next to me."
Kareisová is that fire for Leclercq-Ficher on the court.
Their practice and chemistry started to pay off in their junior season, where they held down court two together. They came away with eight wins as a tandem that season, all on court two, earning the second-most wins among Ole Miss pairings for the year.
Leclercq-Ficher said the duos attitude is what leads them to success.
"Especially in college doubles you need to have a good attitude," she said. "So many of the matches we won were just because of our attitude."
To this day, it's still customary to see the pair together, laughing and smiling.
"There is a special bond when we play together," Leclercq-Ficher said. "It is rare to find when you have two people get so fired up that it brings the best out of them."
In the 2024-25 season, Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová returned to the first position in doubles and started the season undefeated. She pair managed to make it all the way to the NCAA Individual Championship during the fall campaign, becoming Ole Miss' first doubles tandem to do so Arianne Hartono and Alexa Bortles did so in 2018. Leclercq-Ficher made it as a singles competitor as well, joining Kareisová and Lucie Petruzelova.
With conference season underway, Leclercq-Ficher and Kareisová have established themselves as Ole Miss' court one duo and have a 5-2 dual record thus far.
"It is going to be a good year for us at home and on the road."
On and Off the Court:
Being a true senior, leadership follows closely with that role.
On the court, she has kept a top half lineup spot since freshman year.
Leclercq-Ficher has also been recognized for multiple awards, including Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Scholar (2024), CSC Academic All-District (2024), SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll (2023, 2024) and ITA Scholar Athlete (2023).
For her last season as an Ole Miss Rebel, Leclercq-Ficher was named captain, alongside her doubles partner Kareisová. The duo continues their bond on and off the court through their leadership, determination, and love for Ole Miss and its tennis program.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
FOLLOW THE REBELS ON SOCIAL
For more information on Ole Miss Women's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWTennis, on Facebook at OleMissWTennis and on Instagram at OleMissWTennis. Also, follow Coach Beyers on Twitter, @MarkBeyers.
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