7 November 2010 | Tennis Victoria

Most junior tennis players dream of becoming the world No.1 player. Stefan Skadarka (Seaholme) has bigger dreams, which include winning more titles than his favourite player, Roger Federer, who currently has 63 titles, including 16 Grand Slams.

Stefan’s quest has recently been recognised, having been awarded the Prelli Racquets Talent Development Award by Tennis Victoria for October.

“Stefan’s game is developing well and has done so over the past year,” said Ashley Naumann,

Tennis Victoria’s Talent Development Program Manager.

Naumann says Stefan is a well deserving winner of the award, not only because of his tennis talent, but because he has a great attitude and work ethic.

 A member of Tennis Victoria’s 12/u Talent Development Program, Stefan began playing tennis at Laverton Park Tennis Club when he was five years old. He began playing competitive tennis in Saturday competitions and by the age of seven was the youngest player in Junior Pennant.

At the early age of seven and a half Stefan played his first Junior Development Series event at Boroondara. Now aged 11, Stefan competes in three or four national events per year and as many tournaments as his busy schedule permits.

“Stefan is a good student as well as a good tennis player,” said Elizabeth Skadarka, Stefan’s mother.

She describes him as a calm player who always tries his best; someone who is very competitive and pushes himself in everything he does.

Stefan is currently ranked No.3 in Victoria and No.30 in Australia for his age and he lives and breathes tennis, recording details of his matches in a personal diary. He is also known to ‘play’ matches with Federer in the house or backyard and doesn’t like being interrupted when he is 5-4 up and has match point to defeat the world No.2!

Stefan describes himself as an all-rounder on the tennis court and his favourite shot is his forehand.