WA’s Tristan Schoolkate will make his debut appearance at The Junior Championships when the Wimbledon junior event commences on Saturday, July 6.
Cementing Schoolkate’s dominance on the junior circuit, the Scarborough young gun will step on court at The All England Lawn Tennis Club with an ITF Junior career high ranking of 44.
Schoolkate will no doubt look to follow in the footsteps of newly crowned world number 1, Ashleigh Barty, who won the Wimbledon junior event in 2011 when she was just 15 years old.
Contributing to Schoolkate’s acceptance to the Wimbledon Junior event and recent rankings rise has been his success on the European junior’s circuit over the past three months.
A Singles winner at the J2 Prato (Italy) saw Schoolkate overcame the number one seed Youcef Rihane in the Semi Final before going on to beat Spaniard Max Alcala Gurri 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to claim the Singles title. Schoolkate’s win at the J2 Prato lands him in fine company, with the honour board of the prestigious tournament boasting the likes of Roger Federer (1997) and Andy Murray (2003).
In the Doubles of the Grade A event in Milan, Italy, Schoolkate teamed up with fellow Australian Dane Sweeny (24). The pair won through a tough Semi Final’s match 6-7 (5), 7-6 (2) [10-3] against top ranked junior players Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune (2) and Martin Damm (6). The duo went on to win the Final 6-4, 7-6 (3) over Thiago Agustin Tirante (5) and Admir Kalender (68).
In addition, Schoolkate was a Quarterfinalist in both the Singles and Doubles events in Salsomaggiore (Italy), was a Doubles Quarterfinalist in the J1 Beaulieu-sur-Mer (Italy) and in the J2 Istres (France), Schoolkate finished as a Singles Quarterfinalist and Doubles Semi Finalist.
European success aside, Schoolkate and doubles partner Dane Sweeny won the Doubles Final of the J1 Nonthaburi (Thailand) in a three set tie break 6-2, 3-6 (10-7) with Schoolkate finishing as a Quarterfinalist in the Singles event. At the Australian Open Junior Championships, Schoolkate and Sweeny again joined forces, finishing as Quarterfinalists.
Eighteen year old Schoolkate, who has played tennis since age four and trained with the National Academy since age 11 says playing at Wimbledon is a dream come true.
“I grew up playing on the grass at Claremont Tennis Club where my dad was the Head Coach and it was always a dream of mine to play at Wimbledon one day,” said Schoolkate.
National Academy Head Coach Mr Andrew Roberts says that Schoolkate has worked tirelessly in securing his career high ITF Junior ranking and Wimbledon Junior main draw entry.
“Over the past three months, Tristan has competed against many of the world’s top ranked juniors and in doing so has proven his competitive position when up against the best,”
“Being accepted into the main draw of the Wimbledon Junior Championships is well deserved,”
“It’s so great to see Tristan’s hard work and dedication towards his development paying off,” said Mr Roberts.
Tennis West CEO Mr Michael Roberts said Schoolkate’s success is testament to the commitment and dedication of the youngster who has been well supported through his involvement with the National Academy program.
“Tristan has proven what’s possible when high performance players and coaches dedicate themselves to achieving something great,”
“Tristan has worked with our National Academy coaches since he was eleven years old and continues to challenge himself as a competitive force against the top ranked juniors in the world,” Mr Roberts said
Schoolkate will hit the courts at the Junior Wimbledon Championships from 6 July 2019.
For further information visit: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/atoz/juniors.htm
Current rankings summary:
• 18/U ITF World Junior Ranking: # 44
• Australian Ranking for 2001 birth year: # 3
• Australian Open Male Ranking: # 40
2018 results summary:
• Winner of 8 ITF’s (Combined singles and doubles) including taking out the Singles titles at the Australian Winter International ITF Grade 3 in Sydney, the Gallipoli Youth Cup in Melbourne and the Nicholas Lynch Real Estate Victorian Junior International in Mornington.
• Australian Representative Tour Selection for Oceania Closed Junior Championships, B2 ITF, Nadi, Fiji. Singles Finalist and Doubles semifinalist. 2018
• Winner Singles and Doubles Australian Winter International ITF Grade 3, Sydney. 2018
• Winner Singles and Doubles Gallipoli Youth Cup, Melbourne ITF Junior, Grade 4. 2018
• Winner Singles and Doubles semifinalist Nicholas Lynch Real Estate Victorian Junior International, Mornington. Grade 4 2018
• Singles Semi Finalist and Doubles Finalist Rod Laver QLD Championships, Junior ITF Grade 4. 2018
• Singles Semi Finalist and Doubles Winner Mapei Gold Coast Junior ITF Grade 4
• Australian Open Junior Championships singles and doubles main draw
• Winner Margaret River Gold AMT, WA Singles and Doubles. 2018
• Winner Pro Grass Gold AMT Singles. Perth. 2018
• Hopman Cup hitting partner
• 18/U Australian Championships Singles Quarter Finalist. Melbourne 2017
• 16/U Australian Championships Singles Quarter Finalist and Doubles Finalist. 2017
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