28 February 2017 | Tennis West

10 and under juniors were having an incredible experience representing their state at the Super 10’s National Finals. The Super 10’s National Finals were played in Melbourne during the second week of the Australian Open. It was a great experience for the boys and girls getting to play some great tennis and watching the professionals train and play. Mary June Quinn was delighted to flip the coin for the ladies final.

The WA boys team: Jake Dembo, Nenyasha Manzvera, Luka Vujacic and Archie Brown   (Team Manager: John Roberts)

The WA girls team: Jana Runic, Talia Edgar, Mary June Quinn and Justine Hayward-Janney (Team Manager: Marisa Gianotti)

Below is an article from one of the team member’s parents.

Inspirational!

Super 10s Tennis is an exciting initiative by Tennis Australia and one which I was privileged to experience. Thanks to the selection of my daughter in one of the State teams which comprise 4 girls and 4 boys during the second week of the Australian Open in January I had the opportunity to travel to Melbourne to experience firsthand how amazing Super 10s Tennis is.

Super 10s Tennis is for children who are 10 or below. For example most of this year’s competitors were born in 2006. Each state has rounds of Super 10s trials from which the top four girls and four boys are chosen

The children spent a week in great accommodation. Hence, the Space Hotel in the heart of Melbourne became for many, the first time away from their parents. They were woken each morning at around 5:30am to prepare for their long days at the Melbourne Tennis Centre. They caught trams or busses to the event and upon reaching the centre they had breakfast, trained and played their matches for approximately 50 minutes each for a doubles and a singles match. They learnt so many skills such as organising equipment and correct preparation.

The matches they played were highly competitive and fruitful and had coaches assisting them similar to Davis and Federation Cup matches. However the matches paled in comparison to the many other wonderful activities in which they participated in and learnt from. Hence the days, following competition, were spent in one of the famous arenas in Melbourne Park. They roamed Rod Laver or Margaret Court Arenas, watched in Hisense or simply wandered the wonderful venue. The children also attended various invitation only training sessions for stars such as Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams and many more. Indeed they got to meet Pat Rafter, Alicia Molik, Lleyton Hewitt and so many others they see only on T.V. They even got to watch a Davis Cup training session. My daughter gained autographs and asked questions of many of the players. By the way, they ate very well also alongside various stars and umpires.

The processes put in place during the week taught the children organisational skills, allowed them freedom from parents for 6 nights and permitted them to gain insight into what they would need to do to reach higher levels. Many realised how tennis mature and competitive many of the Eastern Stater players are at such a young age.

To organise an event such as this and to coordinate so many very young kids would require incredible work. As a teacher I can appreciate this. Hence, the tireless hours putting the Super 10 Finals together by the leaders in Australian junior tennis including Craig Tiley, Ian Barclay, Emma Shoemaker et al, in my opinion is unparalleled, and should be commended.

I sincerely hope that this amazing creation by Tennis Australia remains, as I know my daughter and many others, if not all returned to their respective States with stars in their eyes and inspired to reach even higher levels.