TWO of Gunnedah’s fastest rising tennis stars well strut their stuff on a new surface in Albury over the coming days.
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Both Vitorio Sardhina and Mason Louis will take full advantage of the rare opportunity to play on grass courts when they battle it out with some of the state’s best players.
The duo’s coach Craig Louis said the experience of playing on grass would be “good for the boys development”.
“Their preparation for this event and the following event in Wodonga have been really good,” Louis said.
“Playing on grass should help both of them add new skills to their games and so far they have adapted to it really well.”
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For Sardhina, the tournament will act as a warm up for the Foundation Cup, which begins in Melbourne on January 14.
“Vitorio’s preparation has been very good, he is looking fit, has a good mindset and is raring to go,” Louis said.
“I think he is certainly ready for the challenge and has really ticked every box ahead of the Foundation Cup.
Vitorio’s father Wellington Sardhina said his son has spent countless hours preparing for the events.
“There will be some challenging tennis for him in the coming weeks that’s for sure,” Sardhina said.
“I know he is quite excited and a bit nervous, but he has been working very hard in getting himself ready.
“He has been training on the court twice a day for the last few weeks, as well as also incorporating running, swimming and cycling into his training as well.”
Sardhina said “the honour of representing his state” was not lost on Vitorio.
“For us we just want him to really enjoy the experience as it doesn’t come around often,” he said.
“It’s his final chance to compete at the Foundation Cup because next year he will be too old.
“So while it is important to acknowledge the seriousness of representing NSW and everything that has gone into the preparation, we also really want him to soak in every moment and enjoy it.”
Louis said the tournaments in Albury and Wodonga would also be “a positive for Mason’s development”.
“Being a little bit younger than Vitorio it will give Mason a good opportunity to pick up a few things from him,” he said.
“As well as that, he is competing in division one and I think the strong competition will really bring the best out of him.
“It also gives him a good idea of what may lie ahead in the future as he gets older.
“Really there are a lot of benefits for both our guys.
“Hopefully both boys can go well and enjoy themselves.”
- The tournaments wrap up on January 11 before the Foundation Cup begins on January 14.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
