Young superstars Patrick Smith, 10, and Shannon Walker, 9, from the Redland Bay Tennis Club, have been selected in Tennis Queensland’s Super 10s league in the South-East Queensland Region.
The Super 10s is an exciting competition for both boys and girls who are 10 years of age and under and is held in each state/territory across Australia.
To be selected participants had to attend the Challenge Day which was a tough trial at the Queensland Tennis Centre last Sunday with 84, 10 and under boys trying out to make the team. These trials were a round robin format with all 84 boys being put into groups with a coach to assist. Once they had played their designated matches within their groups, they were then mixed up again and put into a new group with a different coach.
It was not just their tennis that was being watched by selectors, it was also the attitude of each player on and off the court as well as their own individual organisation of their tennis bag, tennis racket, water bottle etc.
The Super 10s Series is made up of four boys teams (16 players) and four girls teams (16 players) to play in the three-week team based competition at different tennis centres.
Players will play one singles and one doubles match. Matches are timed and last for 50 minutes.
In this event there is more to win than a trophy, with once in a lifetime experiences on offer and player rewards including the chance to toss the coin at the Australian Open finals, participate in on court demonstrations at the Brisbane International or Australian Open or receive an invitation to one of the Tennis Australia Talent Development Camps.
Tim Low, head coach and owner of Bayside Tennis Coaching was impressed with the attitude of both Patrick and Shannon at the trials.
They were not told on the day if they had made the team, instead having to wait until Monday to find out. Well done to both Patrick and Shannon. It is a fantastic achievement for both these boys to have been selected.