Aussies set for World Junior Tennis Final
Australia’s top 14-and-under junior players will face the world’s best at the ITF World Junior Tennis Final this week in Prostejov, Czech Republic.
Prostejov, Czech Republic, 14 August 2012 | Tennis Australia
Australia’s top 14-and-under junior players will face the world’s best at the ITF World Junior Tennis Final commencing in Prostejov, Czech Republic on Monday.
The all-Queensland team of Priscilla Hon (Rochedale), Sara Tomic (Gold Coast) and Kimberly Birrell (Hope Island) is captained by National Academy Brisbane coach Anthony Richardson, and has been seeded No.3 in the prestigious international event behind No.1 USA and No. 2 Great Britain.
On Day 1 of the round robin competition the girls meet unseeded Russia, followed by Argentina and the fifth-seeded home team, Czech Republic.
Oliver Anderson (Yeronga, Qld), Brian Tran (Greystanes, NSW) and Max Purcell (Belrose, NSW) make up the boys’ team representing Australia, along with National Academy Sydney coach Jarrad Bunt.
The Aussie boys are unseeded and first face No.4 seeds Brazil, followed by unseeded Mexico then fifth seeded Germany on Wednesday.
The 16 teams in the competition are divided into four round-robin groups and the winner of each group will progress to the knockout stage with the finals to take place on Saturday.
In 2007 the Australian boys team of Jason Kubler (Qld), Joey Swaysland (NSW) and Ben Wagland (Qld) won the gold medal in the boys event and in 2010 the Aussie girls, Ashleigh Barty (Qld), Isabella Beischer (Vic) and Lyann Hoang were awarded bronze.
Top players who have competed in this event include Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy Haas, Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.