Giselle Guillen: Castle Hill tennis player representing Australia at Wimbledon under-14 competition

An up-and-coming tennis superstar – aged 14 – from Sydney’s northwest is about to pack her bags to take on the world’s best young talent at a junior competition on Wimbledon’s famous grass courts.

Castle Hill’s own Giselle Guillen, aged 14, is about to pack her bags for the world’s most famous grass courts as the only Australian female competing in Wimbledon's under-14 competition.

Spots in this junior Wimbledon competition go to one girl and one boy from 16 different countries with competitors to face off in a round robin, before the top-placed in the opening group stage face off in the male and female finals.

Guillen, who hadn’t played a match on the grass surface in more than two years, earned her spot after winning a nailbiting three set match at the national qualifiers in Albury this January.

The Hills Shire Times caught up with her on the grass courts of Hunters Hill Lawn Tennis Club, where the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt have also trained.

Guillen said her local club was the Castle Hill Tennis Academy and The Hills was where she first discovered her love for tennis, playing with her dad at their Castle Hill family home.

Now Giselle is busy training at Hunters Hill. Picture: Odessa Blain

“When I was three-years-old, my dad started to feed me red balls on the patio and I would hit them back to him,” Giselle said.

“(Later) me and my dad would go to courts in Castle Hill to hit a few balls — so that was where it all started.”

Giselle is coached by Adam Kennedy, a former Australian professional tennis player. Picture: Odessa Blain.

Giselle Guillen, Castle Hill local selected to represent Australia in Wimbledon under 14 competition.

Now, outside of her school’s tennis program, she is coached by Adam Kennedy, a former professional tennis player.

“We train at his tennis court … and he’s really good, he has helped me so much,” Giselle said.

Remembering the qualifiers in Albury, Giselle said it was a difficult match which went to a tie breaker in the third set.

“But when I won, I was extremely happy and I was so excited,” she said. “Now I feel both excited and nervous about going to compete overseas, and I also feel very proud to represent Australia.”

She says Ash Barty and Serena Williams are her two role models. Picture: Odessa Blain.

“In the lead up to the competition I’m training every day — mostly with my dad, but also (at) my school, (with) Adam Kennedy and here at Hunters Hill, they’ve been really helpful and I’m super grateful for that.”

Asked about her tennis role models, Giselle said she loves Ash Barty and was really upset when she found out about her retirement.

“I also really like Serena Williams,” she said. “I like her fighting spirit and her energy.”

In the future, Giselle says she’s got her hopes set on being part of the Women’s Tennis Association and one day winning a Grand Slam.