Tennis Australia will consider awarding Omar Jasika a wildcard into the Australian Open but is wary of burdening the newly-crowned US Open junior champion with unfair expectations.
Jasika is the latest young sensation to emerge from TA's prolific junior production line and hopes are high that he and fellow young guns Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis can forge a new golden era in Australian tennis.
Kyrgios, up to 51st in the rankings following his Wimbledon and US Open heroics, and Kokkinakis, a two-time junior grand slam finalist last year, are two of only five teenagers in the top 200.
But with Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Mats Wilander, Roger Federer and Andy Murray in an elite group of just 11 players to have won junior and senior grand slam titles in the professional era, TA boss Craig Tiley is cautioning fans against expecting overnight miracles.
"Success at the junior level has never guaranteed a successful transition to the pro tour - and this is even more pronounced now when the average age of the top players is well into their 20s, around 27," Tiley told AAP.
"What is really encouraging is that our transitioning players are starting to be competitive at the highest level."
Jasika fronted Australia's tennis media on Tuesday in Melbourne after arriving home from New York last Thursday and said he was intent on keeping his feet on the ground as the inevitable pressure to back up his junior success in the professional ranks begins to build.
"I just try to stay relaxed and I try not to think about that too much," said the 17-year-old said son of Bosnian immigrants.
"The more relaxed I am, the more it will settle down I guess by itself."
Jasika's coach Liam Smith said he and his talented left-handed charge - who has been likened to former world No.1 Marcelo Rios - were well aware of the long road ahead.
"The transition from junior tennis to men's tennis is quite a big step," Smith said.
"Not every player can make that transition in six months, in one year.
"You're not going to suddenly win every men's future or men's challenger you play because you've had success as a junior.
"There's going to be ups and downs."
Smith said it was too early to tip how far Jasika could go, but Tiley admitted the teenager would be considered for an Australian Open wildcard.
If not granted entry into the main draw, Jasika could well receive a wildcard into the qualifying event in January.
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