22 February 2016 | Tennis West

While the worlds best battled it out for the Australian Open title, Australia’s best 10 and under juniors were having the experience of a lifetime, representing their state at the Super 10’s National Finals.

WA teams comprised of 4 boys and 4 girls each with their own team manager and the support of Tennis Australia’s project talent team.

 

Girls Team

Taylah Preston

Jessie Culley

Chloe Williams

Gayle Leong

Team Manager – Brad Dyer, Next Step Tennis Academy

 

Boys Team

Zach Melanie

James Newton

Cian Ingles

Wayne McNicol

Team Manager – Rick Willsmore, Scarborough Tennis Academy

 

During their experience, they got to have a photo and hit with Pat Rafter, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt, watch the Junior final along with other fun activities such as the Super 10’s Amazing Race. Some athletes were also chosen during the event to perform the coin toss for the Australian Open Men’s and Women’s finals matches. It was an opportunity to grow as young tennis players and people, meet new friends and ultimately have the experience of a lifetime.

 

The players were carrying high expectations and hopes into this competition and they competed to the best of their abilities all week. It was impressive to see the athletes from all the states and it was also exciting to know that these are part of the future of tennis in Australia.

 

The message to the super 10s players was to compete hard, show great sportsmanship and support your team mates. The teams were put into 2 pools of 4 and played 3 preliminary rounds where the WA teams showed great determination, competitiveness and respect to qualify through to the semi finals. The girls ended up reaching the final and were defeated by a strong Queensland team therefore finishing 2nd overall in the competition. The boys only narrowly missed out on a finals berth by 2 single games and lost the playoff  to finish and overall 4th in the competition.

 

The players had the opportunity of oncourt coaching from their team managers throughout along with lessons in preparation, independence and professionalism throughout the entire tour.

 

Congratulations to the team managers for doing a fantastic job with the athletes, the event ran extremely smooth thanks to their tremendous contribution and also well done to all of the players involved who did themselves and WA proud.

 

Finally congratulations to James Newton for winning the National Stosur Award for “Great Movement”. James has shown fluent movement/agility around the court displaying balance and coordination of the body. He has also displayed appropriate movement patterns that allow him to prepare well.

 

– Pablo Eguiguren, Talent Development Manager – WA