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TheLotto Elite Hot 100 lists are published each month, and the December Hot 100 lists feature the 100 boys and girls who most improved their rankings during the month of November. You can find out more about the Lotto Elite Hot 100 - and how the lists are calculated - by reading here.

The latest lists are available here:

• Boys' Hot 100
• Girls' Hot 100

We talked to some of the top performers:

Miruna Scarlat (Boca Raton, Florida)

Miruna Scarlat (WTN: 25.9) has attained her highest-ever spot in the Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings.

The 5-foot-3 right-handed three star stands at No. 200, rising from the 247th position. Scarlat recorded a 7-3 record in November. Her best result was the Battle of Boca in Boca Raton, where she advanced to the semifinals of the women’s open singles tournament.

Three-Star Senior Miruna Scarlat
© Contributed Photo

“I’ve focused on adding two to three extra hours on top of my four hours, which I do in my tennis group,” said Scarlat, a senior at Lee Virtual School, who is also dual enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University. “Overall, I have been very focused on tennis throughout my day, whether that’s on or off the court. Focusing on little goals has helped me a lot. Going into tournaments with the goal of just having a good attitude has relieved the pressure to perform. I have enjoyed seeing how I’ve improved when I’m competing.”

Scarlat trains with Casey Curtis at the Casey Curtis Tennis Academy in Boca Raton. She and her coach are working on developing her net game and building confidence in that area. The two have also placed an emphasis on the serve. Scarlat said they are working on her becoming a diverse player with the use of volleys, overheads, drop shots, and slices.

“My biggest strength has to be my athleticism,” Scarlat said. “I can get to any ball and run around there for hours. My forehand, along with my backhand down the line, are other strengths of mine. I am also very competitive and intense during my matches.

“Alongside training, my whole day is essentially structured around tennis. I stretch, do all my recovery, eat very clean, and go to sleep early. I try to not eat processed food as much as I can and stay away from seed oils. I've gotten into this over the past year and it has made me feel much more energetic on the court.”

Scarlat was born in Hunedoara, Romania, and her parents are Florina Scarlat and Mark Cade. Scarlat began playing tennis in the sixth grade when she decided to try out for the middle school team. From that time on, Scarlat became obsessed with the sport.

Scarlat’s parents are proud of their daughter’s work ethic.

“Her hard work, dedication, discipline, and desire to be the best she can be,” they replied when asked about her improvement. “She doesn't skip being excellent each day, no matter the situation.”

Scarlat is very clear about her goals, for college and her future life.

“My overall goal is to become a professional tennis player,” Scarlat said. “I want to play college tennis first and then go on from there.”

Elliott Parker (Nashville, Tennessee)

Elliott Parker (WTN: 21.2) climbed 88 positions to the No. 192 slot in the Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings from No. 280.

The 6-foot-2 left-handed three star produced an excellent 13-1 singles record, winning a tournament along the way. Parker captured the 18s title at the L4 Open-Louisville (Kentucky).

Three-Star Junior Elliott Parker
© Contributed Photo

“I trusted the process of getting better and accepted that part of improving is losing close matches and learning from them,” Parker said. “I had very few expectations from the L4 tournament in Louisville and just took it match by match and point by point. My coach, Ian, has helped me have confidence that results will continue to come as long as I keep focusing on getting better and controlling my emotions on the court. This attitude allowed me to be free to play and loosen up in tight situations, where in the past, I hadn’t been able to do this as well.”

Parker’s coach is Ian Duvenhage, the former men’s coach at Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida. The two have focused on accuracy and precision of the serve, as well as “clean-ball striking” from the baseline when the rallies get faster.

“My game is centered around my serve and my ability to approach the net at the right time,” said Parker, a junior at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School. “My groundstrokes are solid enough to hang in rallies with baseliners, but I am always looking for the right opportunity to throw in a slice or come to the net and look to volley.

“I will also serve and volley a solid amount, because I know it makes the opponent feel like they have hit better returns. I feel like I stay more positive on the court than a lot of other players. I have experienced firsthand how injuries can take the racquet out of your hand for months at a time. This past experience helps me to enjoy every match and practice.”

Parker is a member of the Hume-Fogg tennis team and is a two-time district and regional singles champion. He also was a state finalist in singles last year.

Academically, his school is ranked No. 48 nationally by the U.S News & World Report. Parker scored a 1420 out of 1520 on his last PSAT. Additionally, Parker maintains a 3.7 grade-point average, and will have completed eight Advanced Placement classes by graduation.

“I have thought a little about college, but I am mostly focused on getting better and trusting the process,” Parker said. “I know that if I work hard, good things will come. I am 100 percent committed to playing college tennis. The most important thing for me in a college team would be the atmosphere and community that the team and coaches have together. Tennis is hard enough as it is, so it’s a lot easier when you have guys that you love around you and a coach that you respect greatly to help you out.”

Parker started in tennis by watching his dad, Morgan Parker, play in league matches with his mom, Katy Parker. He started playing at the age of 5 and competed in tournaments when he was 8. Parker’s dad was an inspiration, as he played college tennis for Cornell University (1992-1994) and Vanderbilt (1994-1996).

“His hard work is paying off after coming back from multiple injuries,” Parker’s parents said. “After coming back, he realized he loves the game and the relationships he had while playing prior to the injury. The word I would use to describe Elliott is resilient. He has come so far, and hopefully has a long way to go too.”

Olivia Whitaker (Newton, Massachusetts)

Olivia Whitaker (WTN: 26.8) has achieved her highest-ever ranking in the Tennis Recruiting Network girls rankings, moving up from 307th to No. 267.

The 5-foot-5 right-handed three star had a singles record of 6-2, and won a recent L5 tournament. Whitaker was victorious in 16s by winning the East Hartford (Connecticut) Tennis Club event.

Whitaker is a sophomore and is taking a year off from school. She plans to return next year to Newton South High School.

Three-Star Sophomore Olivia Whitaker
© Contributed Photo

“I’m very grateful my parents have given me the opportunity to take a year off from school to focus on my tennis and my other passions,” Whitaker said. “I have been focusing on fitness and on improving my mental game, which has really helped me take the next step in my game. In addition, I’ve been setting up a lot of practice matches with people in my area, which is helping me prepare for tournaments.”

Whitaker trains at the Montoya Tennis Academy with coaches Francisco Montoya, Ricardo Munar, and Santiago Perez. She also works out with Phil Parrish at Longfellow Tennis Club. Whitaker said she is working with her coaches on ending points by transitioning to the net. This is a new dimension to her game, and it is helping her to be more aggressive on the court.

“I would describe my game as an aggressive baseliner,” Whitaker said. “I love controlling points with my serve and forehand. My strengths are my strong work ethic and my tenacity. I never back down from a challenge, and always put in the effort to push myself, both in practice and matches.

“What distinguishes me from other players is my persistence. Whether I win or lose, I’m always willing to step on the court the next day and learn from my past matches. Instead of focusing on losses, I focus on what I can improve. This is what helps me gradually grow as a player.”

Whitaker has played No. 1 singles on the Newton South team for the past two years. During her first and second years, she received Dual County League All-Conference accolades.

This year, Whitaker won the National Hispanic Recognition Award from the College Board. The award was due to her high PSAT and grade-point average. Active in the community, Whitaker is vice president of the USTA New England Player Council, which focuses on putting on events for young tennis players in the region. She especially enjoys volunteering at events for age 10-and-under players.

Outside of tennis, Whitaker is interested in math and economics. She was editor of the school newspaper and a member of the Model United Nations Club. Whitaker also volunteers with the Food Pantry Club and Save a Child’s Heart Club.

Whitaker has thought about the collegiate aspect of her life.

“I would like to stay on the East Coast and go to a school that offers strong academics and a challenging environment,” Whitaker said. “I’m looking for a place where I can push myself while also pursuing my passions outside of the classroom. I would love to play college tennis so that I can continue to compete and pursue my love for the game. I would love to compete in a team with a strong camaraderie.”

Her parents, Elizabet and Justin Whitaker, are impressed by their daughter’s passion for the sport of tennis and helping in the community.

“Olivia is determined to make a difference on and off the court,” they said. “She is aware of how lucky she is to have found her passion. She loves training at her academy in the morning, but due to the long winter on the East Coast, she also trains late at night.

“At night, it is a family affair, as she trains with her 11-year-old brother, Matthew, and her mom. Olivia is always a great role model to her brother. She is always demonstrating a positive attitude and willingness to work hard.”

Anibal Nunez (Cumming, Georgia)

Anibal Nunez (WTN: 23.4) now holds the No. 176 position in the Tennis Recruiting Network boys rankings, rising from the 247th slot.

The 6-foot-2 right-handed three star had a 9-5 singles record, reaching the 18s consolation singles final of the L4 Open-Louisville (Kentucky).

Three-Star Sophomore Anibal Nunez
© Contributed Photo

“I credit being more professional and disciplined during my matches as being a big contributor to my success in November,” Nunez said. “I am working on being disciplined and more serious on the court. I am highly energetic on court and will show support where I can, especially in doubles.”

Nunez’s dad, Anibal J. Nunez, is his coach. The older Nunez works at Laurel Springs Tennis Club in Alpharetta, Georgia, and frequently hits tennis balls with his son. The younger Nunez also works out at Greater Atlanta Christian with coach Carlos Cobos and his players.

“I would describe my game as being controlling,” Nunez said. “I am an expert at wearing out my opponents physically until they lose control of their bodies. I am easily distinguishable from other players. Even from another facility you can hear my ‘VAMOOOOOOO!”

Nunez, who also goes by the name “Nacho,” was born in Caracas, Venezuela. According to Nunez, in the wake of troubled economic, crime, and political collapse, his family, including mom (Clarisabel Fossey), moved to suburban Atlanta.

He is currently a sophomore in a home school program, Global Student Network. Academically, Nunez is a junior, but he decided to stay officially as a sophomore in order to complete more Advanced Placement courses for college.

“Going to college is my next objective in life,” Nunez added.

Among his hobbies are chess, playing the guitar and singing. “I always love to challenge myself with learning new songs every day,” Nunez said.

Nunez’s parents said what distinguishes him from the other players is the passion he has in the matches.

“He has respect for the other players, referees, other parents, and especially the way he treats younger tennis players. He is always trying to be a good role model,” they said. ““He is able to play only thinking about the process and pushing hard. Thanks to that, he is capable of practicing regularly, and things are clicking back again.”

Presented by Lotto Elite

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Lotto Elite is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Lotto Elite Hot 100.

It's no coincidence that nearly 200 professional players represent the Lotto brand on the ATP and WTA tours, making it the third most visible brand behind only Nike and adidas, respectively. The Italian design and performance features make Lotto product highly sought-after at every level of competition.

The heritage of Lotto Tennis is rich with Grand Slam and Davis Cup champions, from Wimbledon Champion John Newcombe and Italian Davis Cup Champion Tonino Zugarelli, to Grand Slam Champions Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker.

Lotto Elite is a preferred pricing program designed around and for the coach and player, not the brand. We don't think a ranking or rating defines you as a player. We think your grit, determination, love of the grind, attitude and so much more, both on and off the court, define you as a person and makes you Elite.

This is why we wanted to partner with the Hot 100 list. We believe this group of players embody what it means to be Elite. Whether you're a 2-star or Blue Chip recruit, being on this list means you put yourself out there, went for it, and accomplished a goal. Keep Grinding.

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About James Hill

James Hill is the Assistant Sports Information Director at Trinity University in San Antonio and a freelance writer. He has covered all levels of tennis competition.