After nearly a decade of commitment to tennis, complete with lessons and private coaches and USTA tournaments around the country, St. Paul Academy senior Sonya Das was a little surprised by how much attention she received after winning the Class 1A singles championship last year.

"I put in more work and effort and play tougher opponents outside of the high school season, but I got a lot more recognition after winning the [high school] championship," Das said. "But it's understandable, because I'm representing my school. I'm very proud of it."

Das will defend her crown this week at the girls' tennis state tournament, which begins Tuesday and runs through Friday at two sites in Minneapolis. The Class 2A tournament is at the Baseline Tennis Center, while Class 1A is at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center.

Team competition is Tuesday and Wednesday. Individual play in singles and doubles is Thursday and Friday.

Winning another championship is certainly high among Das' goals, but she admitted that the benefit to playing high school tennis is less about groundstrokes and more about being grounded.

"It's an opportunity for me to experience a team aspect of such an individual sport," said the 5-foot-9 Das, who is undefeated on the season and seeded No. 1 in Class 1A. "It gives me the chance to take a step back and focus on others. That's far more valuable than focusing on individual improvement. I'm only planning to play competitive tennis for maybe four more years, so what I gain in leadership skills will serve me well."

Das isn't the only player looking to defend a title.

Mounds View senior Summer Brills, the 2012 Class 2A singles champion and a close friend and training partner of Das, is seeded No. 1 in the 2A singles bracket.

Brills and Das have played each other so many times that it's impossible to say who is better, Das said.

"Honestly, we pretty much go back and forth," she said. "It's cool that we're both champions, but having an ultimate state championship match would be fun to see."

No repeat in Class 1A

While Edina is favored to extend its team championship streak to 17 years in Class 2A, a new team champion is assured in Class 1A because last year's champion, Blake, moved up to 2A this year. The Bears were ousted by Wayzata in the Section 6 semifinals. Breck, St. James and Rochester Lourdes are considered 1A favorites.