Emerging Aussie tennis star Jaimee Fourlis has finished school and is ready to make her mark

IF you’ve grumbled about a tennis bag blocking your way through a train carriage in Melbourne, your grievance could be directed to one of Australia’s emerging stars.

Jaimee Fourlis is back at the Australian Open. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

IF you’ve grumbled about a tennis bag blocking your way through a train carriage on the South Morang line, chances are your grievance could have been directed at one of Melbourne’s newest grand slam competitors.

A lot has changed in recent months for Jaimee Fourlis, from Preston. She turned 18, finished Year 12 and obtained entry to the Australian Open and her Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.

One thing hasn’t altered: she still taps on with her myki daily to make her way to Melbourne Park.

OPEN BOUND? CLOCK TICKING FOR TOMIC

NEW PREPARTION: RAFA TO PLAY KOOYONG

“I’ve got my Ls (learner driver permit), and I’ve probably done eight hours,” Fourlis said. That leaves 112 to go, so she catches public transport to training every day.

“I end up leaving some of my tennis gear in my locker, but usually I have a bag with all my new clothes, my dirty clothes, and take the train every day.

“If it’s running late, if it’s hot outside, I take the train. Or replacement bus.

“You get the looks about the tennis bag — ‘Why is it so big?’ and ‘Why is it in the way?’ or ‘Why is it in the middle of the train?’.”

School’s out for Jaimee Fourlis. Pic: Michael Klein

Fourlis has always considered herself a high achiever, and while she travelled extensively this year — including to the French Open after making the second round in her grand slam debut at last year’s Australian — her studies remained a primary focus.

After her Roland Garros jaunt, Fourlis conceded she was “quite behind”, so she stepped away from the court for three months, hitting only twice a week, and hit the books.

“Trying to complete the weekly work, on top of trying to study for a SAC (school assessed coursework), and play tennis as well, it does get quite difficult,” she said.

“It was a hard decision to make but it was the right decision to come back and focus on school.”

So, like many Victorian students, Fourlis rose early on December 15.

“I won the Under 18s nationals on the Saturday and then the results came out on the following Friday,” she said.

“I was like, ‘Please sleep in!’. But I ended up waking up at 6.51am. Results came out at 7. I was like, ‘I’m not going to check them’ but I ended up checking and I tried my best and I’m over the moon. It was such a goal of mine.”

Jaimee Fourlis with the spoils of her three-set victory over Destanee Aiava. Pic: Michael Klein

Having turned 18, Fourlis is free to plan her 2018 campaign as she sees fit.

WTA rules state that 17-year-old players can play 16 tournaments a year, meaning it was important to pick and choose where and when to compete.

Not any more.

“I get to play every day — I get to travel for as long as I want without having to come home now,” Fourlis said. “It’s going to be one of the best feelings.

“It will be really tough, but I’ve got nothing to lose and I’ll give it a good old crack.”

Her second consecutive Australian Open berth didn’t come easily — a hard-fought, three-set victory over fellow Melburnian Destanee Aiava, 17, in the under 18 national championships.

But it included a voice that Fourlis has noticed growing over the last year — one that she welcomed.

“While I was playing I was thinking, ‘You can do this ... if you just stick to what you know, then you don’t have to play next week’ (in the wildcard playoff),” she said.

“Over the last 12 months, it has definitely gotten louder and is getting louder. There’s always a little bit of that self-doubt with every player, but just with me learning just to keep trusting myself and know that I can do it and keep pushing myself to keep improving and keep telling myself that I can do it and to keep believing.”

Fourlis wants to make her mark at Melbourne Park. Pic: Michael Klein

Fourlis knows there is a certain pressure that comes with playing in a home grand slam, having been at the centre of the whirlwind last January after her first round win over Georgian-American Anna Tatashvili, 27, then falling to former world No.2 and current top-15 player, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, 32, in the second round.

“At times, it does get overwhelming,” Fourlis said. “But I’m going in there second lowest ranked player in the draw. Hopefully all my family and friends will come and watch. I train here (Melbourne Park) every day. It’s like my second home. I can’t wait to go and play and see how it goes.

“I’ve worked hard and I know I’ve done a lot of hours. I’ve got a great team behind me that has put in a lot of work with me and I’m very grateful for that.

“I can’t wait to show what I’ve got.”