Tennis achieved a welcome double at the ACT Sports Star of the Year awards on Friday night.
The annual awards, which salute Canberra’s most outstanding athletes and coaches, honoured rising junior Nick Kyrgios and veteran Ros Balodis.
This year Kyrgios won back-to-back junior Grand Slam doubles titles with Melbourne’s Andrew Harris, drawing comparisons with the ‘‘Woodies’’.
In the French Open final, the Australian duo beat seventh seeds Adam Pavlasek and Vaclav Safranek 6-4, 2-6 (10-7), while at Wimbledon the pair did not lose a set on their way to the title, beating Italy’s Matteo Donati and Pietro Licciardi 6-2, 6-4 in the final.
The 17-year-old world junior No.4 said it was an honour for his achievements to be recognised.
“It’s great to win this award and be among such talented athletes,” he said.
“I’ve had a great year on court, but hopefully it is just the beginning of things to come for me.”
After winning the 50 Women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Australian Seniors Championship in January, Balodis captained the winning Australian Women’s 50 team in the World Senior Teams Championship held in San Diego in February.
Balodis also reached the semi-finals of the Women’s 50 Singles World Seniors Individual Championships, losing to eventual winner, American Rosalyn Nideffer.
She then partnered Leanne Swayland to take out the 50 women’s doubles 4-6, 7-5, 6-0.
Latest
ACT