Two players from the Apis Canberra International 2018, Blake Ellis (Qld) and Yuki Kristina Chiang (USA), today visited enthusiastic student tennis players from Canberra High School. Chiang and Ellis played a few games at the Belconnen Tennis Club with participants from the school’s Active Girls program, aimed to get girls involved in sport for exercise, skills and fun. Head Coach at the Belconnen Tennis Club Jeff Gray, emphasized the link between engagement with local tennis events, and benefits for high school children.
“The tennis program makes them feel like the they are part of something bigger. When the students see tennis on TV, or tournaments in the region, they can see they’re not on the outside of a sport but are right in the mix of it”.
The development of tennis at Canberra High has been significant over the past two years, as the links between the Belconnen Tennis Club and the school have grown. The school’s focus on tennis culminated in their win of Most Outstanding School at the Tennis ACT Awards Celebration, a victory rewarded with the player experience today. Executive teacher of Sport, Health and Physical Education, Graeme Lambert was passionate about physical education, including getting involved in the sport and the Belconnen Tennis Club.
“The use of the facilities and the coaching staff has really built on the strength of tennis, creating a lot more opportunities for our kids to come down here and build their skills, and understand what tennis is really about”.
“The player visit is a really great opportunity, and it’ll only build their motivation to continue to play”.
After Ellis and Chiang played a few games with the students, they participated in a question and answer session with the school. Ellis, currently ranked 454th in the world, has had a significant win already in the Apis Canberra International 2018, after his upset yesterday against eight seed and world number 220 Yatsutaka Ishiyama. Ellis is playing tomorrow against fellow Australian and world number 467 Luke Saville. Ellis talked about his biggest inspiration to the tennis hopefuls at Canberra High.
“For me I’d have to say Roger Federer. I was actually fortunate enough to hit with him a few times, so that was a cool experience. The way he carries himself on court makes him someone that everyone could look up to.”
Chiang, ranked 1066th in the world, was especially inspiring to the Active Girl’s program, who made up many of the students at the courts today. Chang described her biggest achievement to date.
“My biggest achievement was winning the Orange Bowl when I was 14, which is most prestigious thing a 14 year old could do, and you get a bowl of oranges at the end”.
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