Brisbane QLD, Australia, 7 April 2017 | Camilla Campbell

A week after returning from India, Australia’s Junior Davis Cup squad are in intense training mode at the Queensland Tennis Centre.

The camp coincides with the Davis Cup presented by BNP Paribas, with the boys encouraged to soak up what life is like at the top level.

“See how they train, see how they prepare to play Davis Cup and we get to watch them it’s been really good,” said 16 year old Dane Sweeney from the Sunshine Coast, who’s been watching the senior team closely.

“Their intensity, their focus, but also they’re having a lot of fun when they train as well they aren’t putting too much pressure on themselves,” he added.

Six boys are in Brisbane training as part of the Junior Davis Cup squad; Dane Sweeney (QLD), Rinky Hijikata (NSW), Ken Cavarak (VIC), Tristan Schoolkate (WA), Tom Evans (NSW) and Stefan Storch (VIC).

“The level of consistency everyone brings to training especially the Davis Cup team, every session they are trying to work on something and they’re getting better so I think that’s something we should strive towards,” said Sydney’s Rinky Hijikata.

The 16-year-old appreciates the different style, and journey to professional tennis, for Australia’s top two players.

“Nick’s really good to watch he’s really entertaining and when he’s on he’s one of the best players in the world at the moment and Thommo as well, he’s been working really hard, he hasn’t really had a rise straight towards the top he’s been working steadily and I think that’s good about him.”

Both Sweeny and Hijikarta were part of Australia’s junior Davis Cup team that came second in the Asia / Oceania Final Qualifying event in New Delhi last month.

“We were expecting to go well we have a really good team, good depth, but we matched our expectations coming second had a close chance at coming first as well,” said Sweeney.

“They’re reselecting the team to go to Hungary in September for Worlds to play the best team in the world…hopefully (I get selected) we will see what happens.”

Sweeney missed out on playing in India, after feeling a twinge in his arm the day before he left.

“I had a little tear in my bicep, I pulled out of the Thailand tournament to try and make the junior Davis Cup team but wasn’t good enough.

“I felt it at training the day before I went over,” he said.

Hijikata is also hoping to be selected  for India, after being pivotal to the team’s success in India.

“Playing in a team is really good you are playing for one another…I used to play a lot of team sports and having that aspect back of a team environment is really good,” he said.