Migrants among Australia's emerging tennis elite

Fifteen years ago, the who's who of Australian tennis all had names like Woodbridge, Rafters, Arthurs and Pratt. Today, migrants are among the emerging tennis elite.

Coach Michael Baroch watches Stefen Skadarka SBS Dinham.jpg
Fifteen years ago, the who's who of Australian tennis all had names like Woodbridge, Rafter, Arthurs and Pratt.
 
Today the names of the emerging tennis elite are significantly different in origin, as Australian tennis experiences a surge in talent from players of migrant backgrounds.
 
A large contingent of Australian juniors from Serbian and Chinese backgrounds train four hours a day, six days a week at the Melbourne International Tennis school.



Internationally renowned coach Michael Baroch says young players of migrant backgrounds are dedicating themselves to the sport, while others are switching to football and cricket.
 
"I know that a lot of those kids are straying off to team sports, a lot of Australian kids. Where I find a lot of the kids, say from Serbia and Europe, they're all very much individualised and want to play tennis and play it well," he said.
 
In their first year out of the juniors, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis - both Australian-born of Greek heritage - have the sponsors lining up.
 
Tournament Director for Australian Open Junior Championships, Francis Soyer, has dismissed concerns the pair could be lured to the more lucrative European tennis circuit.
 
"I've known Thanassi and Nick for a long time since they were coming up through the junior ranks and there's no danger of that whatsoever. And I think the Australian public has embraced Thanassi and Nick because they just represent who Australian people are at the moment."
 
Manager of Bayside Tennis, Coach John Trickey, said the changing face of tennis could be due to the increase in international stars competing in Australia, and inspiring kids with family ties to their home countries.
 
"Historically America and Australia dominated tennis for a long period of the game but now since the game has gone open and a lot of money has come into the game we have champions from places we didn't even know existed before."
 
Young Serbian-Australian Eva Pandurevic says she knows exactly what she want in her tennis career and she has the drive to get it.
 
"I hope to win all four majors at the same time and be number one in the world."


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2 min read

Published

Updated

By Abby Dinham

Source: SBS


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