Far North tennis juniors keen to serve up best efforts in Mareeba
Young Far North tennis players will give their best shot at the Junior Development Series tournament in Mareeba this weekend, proving just how talented they are.
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Young Far North tennis players will give their best shot this weekend, proving just how talented they are.
More than 75 competitors from as far south as Tully and north as Mossman will head to the Junior Development Series tournament at Mareeba Tennis Club this weekend.
Edge Hill Tennis Club junior Karma Havini, 9, finished runner-up in the Girls’ Green Ball (9-12 years) division at the first JDS tournament in Cairns last month.
She said she was “very excited” to get on the court and showcase her skills at the Mareeba tournament.
“I’ve been playing tennis since I was three and I like that you can run and hit the ball and it’s a really fun sport to play,” she said.
“I get private lessons on Monday and group lessons on Tuesday and sometimes on Friday I come to cardio tennis.
“This weekend in Mareeba I’m hoping to do my best and at least come in the top three.”
Havini said she would be channelling her favourite players Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka during the series.
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“The way they hit the ball and how they keep their mental game, they’re just amazing in tennis,” she said.
“I would really like it if I could meet Naomi Osaka. I met Ash Barty two weeks ago and it was really cool. I was playing with her and she said I nearly took her head off.”
Fellow Edge Hill youngster Kalan Wilson, 11, said he was looking forward to testing himself this Saturday.
“Seeing that I’m in a hard draw, it’s going to be a bit of a challenge playing against all the 16-year-olds,” he said.
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“It’s good experience to practice against harder players. I’m just going to try my best and see what happens.”
Coach Tom Horn said the series was important for junior development and provided a pathway from fixtures to tournaments.
“It gives them a chance to go up against harder players and get more game time against the more experienced competition,” he said.
The Mareeba tournament will be just the second FNQ JDS event to be held this year, after the annual series had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
From the series, a Far North team will be selected to compete at the JDS state finals in Rockhampton later this year.
Originally published as Far North tennis juniors keen to serve up best efforts in Mareeba