20 September 2024 | Tennis Victoria

Congratulations to the eight outstanding junior athletes who have been named a finalist for the 2024 3Junior Athlete of the Year Award.

The Junior Athlete of the Year award recognises outstanding junior athletes who have represented Victoria or Australia and/or participated on a Tennis Australia interstate or international Tour and/or in any Australian Championships. They have displayed an appropriate and commendable attitude on and off the court. They have a commendable ATP, ITF or AR ranking, and have complied with all rules and conducts set by Tennis Australia. 

 

Meet the Finalists 

 

Female Award

Ava Beck

16 year old Ava claimed singles wins in J30 events in Lautoka and Adelaide, as well as wins at J100 events in Canberra and Mornington. Semi Finals at events in Adelaide, Christchurch and Brisbane have seen her ranking on the rise, reaching 192 in the nomination period and boasting a 70% win rate in singles. Ava represented Australia in the 2024 Junior Billie Jean King Cup competition.

Koharu Nishikawa

A win at the J100 The Hague, and an Australian Open Junior 1st Round are highlights of 15 year old Koharu’s year. She also was selected in the Junior Billie Jean King Cup team. Semi Finals in the J100s in Christchurch, Canberra and Bruchkoebel are evidence of her consistent year on court, reaching a career high ITF ranking of 253 within the nomination period.

Ana Maric

Ana claimed the 12u singles Australian Claycourt Championships in April 2024 and also took out the doubles with Lara Wu. She also won the 2024 JT Premier 250 Waverley Tennis Event singles and was a se I finalist in doubles. She finished the nomination period on top of the Australian Junior Tour Masters Leader Board for Girls 12u.

Gabrielle Villegas

Reaching an ITF singles ranking of 250 in the nomination period, Gabrielle competed in Round 1 of the Australian Open Juniors in both singles and doubles. Doubles has been a strength for the 17 year old with a title at the J100 Brisbane and making the final is the J60 Gold Coast. Gabrielle’s top singles performances include making the quarter finals of the Oceania Regional Championships in August 2023 and was a Quarterfinalist of the J100 Brisbane.

 

Male Award

Yassin Hill

Yassin was a member of the Australian World Team Cup in Turkey, where the team finished second. He reached No. 5  in the Wheelchair Tennis ITF Junior rankings during the nomination period. Yassin competed in the 2024 French Open and qualified for the US Open. He has claimed titles at the NSW Wheelchair Open (junior), Melbourne Wheelchair Open (junior) and Melbourne Wheelchair Classic.

Ymerali Ibraimi

Ymerali was a member of the U15 Boys Australian Teams Championships winning team on the Gold Coast. He also won a J30 Perth and made semi finals. Semi Finals at the J60 Gold Coast show the consistent performances being shown on court. In the nomination period, Ymerali has reached an ITF singles high of 741.

Novak Palombo

11-year-old Novak won the 12/u Boys Australian Grasscourt Championships (without dropping a set), the 12/u Rafael Nadal Tour Masters, the All in Open in France and the Austrian Youth Open in Kufstein. He was also a finalist of the Daimon Cup Bucharest and the Kaka Open and a semi finalist of Jura Europe Junior Tour. Now 12 years old, Novak is 3rd on the Australian Rankings for his age group.

Jin Woodman

Wheelchair tennis player Jin Woodman has improved his Junior Singles ITF Ranking from outside the Top 10 to No. 3 and boasts a ITF Singles ranking of 156 and Quad Singles ranking of 21. He represented Australia in the World Team Cup in Turkey, where they finished in second place. He won the  Megasaray Cup (Quad), Brisbane Wheelchair Classic (Juniors) and Queensland Wheelchair Open (Junior Grade A) and was a finalist at the Melbourne Wheelchair Classic.

 

Previous Winners 

Male

Female

2022/23 – Daniel Jovanovski 2021/22 – Saalim Naser 2020/21 – Cooper White 2018/19 – Cooper White 2017/18 – Cooper White 2016/17 – Matthew Dellavedova 2015/16 – Ken Cavrak 2014/15 – Omar Jasika 2013/14 – Marc Polmans 2012/13 – Marc Polmans 2011/12 – Daniel Guccione 2010 Andrew Whittington 2009 Thomas Price 2008 Stephen Hoh 2007 Sebastian Bell 2006 James Lemke 2005 Stephen Donald 2004 Patrick Nicholls 2003 Andrew Coelho 2002 Ryan Thomas 2001 Robert McKenzie 2000 Chris Guccione 1999 Michael Staniak 1998 Alex Bucewicz 1997 Rameez Junaid 1996 Klaudiusz Gursztyn 1995 Michael Logarzo 1994 Andrew Ilie 1993 Mark Philippoussis 1992 Leigh Holland 1991 Mark Philippoussis 1990 Taso Vasiliadis 1989 Brad Sceney 1988 Bill Madafferi 1987 Andrew Florent

2022/23 – Roisin Gilheany 2021/22 – Roisin Gilheany 2020/21 – Roisin Gilheany 2018/19 – Amy Stevens 2017/18 – Destanee Aiava 2016/17 – Destanee Aiava & Jaimee Fourlis 2015/16 – Jaimee Fourlis 2014/15 – Destanee Aiava 2013/14 – Destanee Aiava 2012/13 – Destanee Aiava 2011/12 – Zoe Hives 2010 Sandy Vo 2009 Olivia Rogowska 2008 Sally Peers 2007 Stephanie Wiltshire 2006 Alenka Hubacek 2005 Stephanie MacFarlane 2004 Mary Ann Liu 2003 Ewa Losinksi 2002 Melissa Koning 2001 Claudia Szabo 2000 Kim Coventry 1999 Emma Gott 1998 Athina Pirpiris 1997 Susan Cowan 1996 Christina Wheeler 1995 Cindy Watson 1994 Karen Butler 1993 Vanessa Kendall 1992 Tamlyn Bottrell 1991 Joanne Limmer 1990 Joanne Limmer 1989 Maria Purcell 1988 Lily Nejasmic 1987 Elana Clark