GUN Redland Bay tennis player Lara Walker, 14, is the only Queenslander to make the Australian girls’ tennis team.
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She is one of seven Aussies who will compete this month at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals at Prostejov in the Czech Republic.
Australia qualified in the junior girls and boys divisions after placing first and third respectively in their Asia/Oceania qualifying events held earlier this year in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Australian girls’ team will feature Annerly Poulos of Canberra, Lara Walker and Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz of Glengowrie, SA, with Tennis Australia National Women’s Tennis manager Rohan Fisher team captain.
Fisher said the team, which left for Europe last month, was raring to go.
"The girls did extremely well in Thailand… This has provided them with a strong sense of confidence and belonging coming into the finals,” Fisher said.
“The girls have been training hard in preparation for this tournament and have been playing junior events across Europe, building their competition experience on clay.
“World junior tennis is a fantastic opportunity for the team. Representing your country is an athlete’s ultimate goal, hopefully one day we’ll see them on the Australian fed cup team.”
In the boys’ squad are Casey Hoole (Kedron, Queenland), Philip Sekulic (Wakerley, Queensland), Edward Vo (Croydon Park, SA) and Cooper White (Alphington, Victoria).
Tennis Australia National Academy coach Anthony Richardson of Queensland will captain the team.
Richardson said the team looked strong.
“We have an extremely even team and the boys all get on so well. Team spirit and togetherness is a real strength of the squad this year,” Richardson said.
“I think we’ve got a very good chance, all four players are strong on clay and there is a lot of diversity within the team.”
The world’s top 16 nations from five qualifying zones will compete.
The world junior competition has helped launch the careers of some of the world’s best players including Novak Djokovic, Lleyton Hewitt, Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters.
