As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we interviewed Tennis Hot Shots participant Rachael Jacques, Junior World No.50 Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Official Robyn Tucker about their involvement in tennis and the message they would give to other girls and women wanting to get involved.
Rachael Jaques – Tennis Hot Shots player
When did you start playing tennis?
I started playing when I was four, I have been playing for six years. Over those six years I have been playing in the Tennis Hot Shots program.
What is your favourite thing about playing tennis?
I have started with red balls, but the last two years I’ve been playing with the orange balls. I have learnt backhands, forehands, serving and volleys. I like the coordination of hitting the ball back and forth, and I like learning new skills.
What is your favourite tennis shot?
I like all of the tennis shots, but my most favourite would have to be serving. I like the coordination of throwing up the ball, hitting it and trying to make it land in the tennis court.
What would you say to other young girls who want to play tennis?
I would tell other young girls that tennis is a good sport and you should join the Hot Shots program. It’s a good sport because you can be outdoors, you can get fit, you have lots of fun, learn new skills and meet other people.
Who is your favourite tennis player and why?
My favourite tennis player is Ash Barty, because she’s an Aussie, she is a great role model. She’s a very nice person, she is polite and she is also the world number one.
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz – Junior world No.50 and Australian Open Junior Championships 2022 singles semi finalist
Tell us about your background in tennis
I started playing tennis when I was around five. My parents got me in to tennis because my brother was playing and I thought I’d just tag along.
Tell us about where your career sits now and what your plans are for this year?
I am hoping to travel this year and play the Junior Grand Slams if my ranking is high enough and just play the best tennis that I can.
Who are the influential women you have looked up to during your career?
I definitely look up to my Mum, my Aunty, all the women who support me in my life, they have been a great help in making me who I am today and the woman I am hopefully becoming.
What does it mean to have played alongside people like Simona Halep and how have those experiences helped you in the early days of your professional career?
Playing with Simona Halep was amazing, it was so unexpected and I was just so happy when I got told. She has been a great role model for me growing up, so playing alongside her was a dream come true.
Have you had some other female tennis players who have mentored or supported you during your career? How important is it to have these sorts of people around you?
I have had a few females supporting me throughout my career. Casey Dellacqua supported me for one of the tournaments and I thought it was just so good to get an insight from someone who was a professional herself and just looking up to her. And all the Australian girls now who are doing well, like Storm, Dasha, Ash, they have all helped me to see what I want to do and how I can become the best person I can be.
What is your message to other young girls who might want to start playing tennis?
I would tell younger girls to keep fighting for what they believe in, just take it one day at a time and do the best you can, even on those rough days you’ve just got to look at the bright side and keep enjoying the game.
Robyn Tucker – ITF white badge Referee
Pictured with Adelaide International Chief of Officials Kirsty Marnane
Tell us about your background in tennis
I have been involved in tennis all my life, through playing, coaching and now officiating. I have been officiating for approximately six years and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
Being involved in tennis all my life, my body now doesn’t allow me to continue playing or coaching, but I still wanted to be heavily involved in the sport and that’s why I went in to the officiating field.
What are some of the special experiences you can recall from your time officiating?
I thoroughly enjoyed doing my first Australian Open juniors just recently. That was an unbelievable experience, just seeing how it is all run and what is involved behind the scenes. That would have to be by far my best experience so far.
You’ve chosen to head down an off court pathway, how important are these pathways in keeping females involved in the sport?
There are so many avenues to be involved in the sport of tennis outside of playing, whether that be officiating, coaching or administration to name just a few. You don’t have to be doing officiating full time, there are pathways available for those with a family or commitments at home and there are plenty of opportunities to be involved.
Having someone like Ash Barty leading the way in tennis is hopefully going to see us have a huge influx of more females into the sport.
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