Jin Woodman and Isla Gillespie are set to compete with Yassin Hill and Benjamin Wenzel within the US Open 2024 junior wheelchair tennis occasions.
New York, USA, 4 September 2024 | Rhys de Deugd
4 Australian rising stars are set to showcase their skills on the world stage within the US Open 2024 junior wheelchair tennis competitions.
Victorian Jin Woodman will compete at a Grand Slam for the primary time at simply 15 years outdated, as 18-year-old Isla Gillespie from New South Wales turns into the primary Australian lady to play in a Grand Slam junior wheelchair tennis occasion.
For Gillespie, she is realising a objective she has been dreaming about for a very long time.
“I’m so excited. It was a reasonably lengthy journey to get right here with lots of ups and downs,” the junior ladies’ world No.10 mentioned.
“I’ve been to the US earlier than, however by no means New York, and that’s all the time been the dream. So, for New York to be the place of my first Grand Slam is absolutely thrilling.”
Gillespie earned her spot on the US Open after some nice outcomes this 12 months, together with profitable back-to-back ITF titles in South Africa, which noticed her rewarded with a rating rise into the world’s prime 10.
“Seeing their enthusiasm (in South Africa) for the game I believe actually motivated me to maintain going as a result of it was such a enjoyable and completely happy atmosphere, which was actually cool to be part of and I’m tremendous grateful for that have,” she mentioned.
“To have certified I’m actually proud – and to be the primary one (Australian lady) is absolutely cool as nicely.”
Within the boys’ occasion, Woodman is joined by Queenslander Benjamin Wenzel, who competed on the US Open in 2023, and Yassin Hill from Victoria, who featured on this 12 months’s Roland Garros junior wheelchair tennis championships.
This makes Australia is the highest-represented nation within the US Open junior boys’ wheelchair occasion.
The 15-year-old Woodman is at the moment Australia’s highest-ranked junior wheelchair tennis participant at world No.4, and he’s thrilled to journey to the USA for the primary time and showcase his expertise on the world stage.
“It’s my first time going to a Grand Slam. So after I came upon, I used to be leaping up and down and immediately advised everybody at my faculty,” Woodman mentioned.
“It can simply be such a tremendous expertise, and I believe junior Grand Slams are cool as a result of it offers you a style of what your future might be like.”
Woodman has received 4 ITF titles this 12 months and in addition obtained a silver medal as a part of the Australian staff on the 2024 World Group Cup in Turkey.
The World Group Cup was a private spotlight for the rising star, and representing his nation is one thing he hopes to proceed doing similar to his function fashions on the Paris Paralympics, Ben Weekes and Anderson Parker.
“World Group Cup is step one then after that, while you truly get the expertise, that’s after I hope I can characterize the inexperienced and gold even additional,” he mentioned.
The senior wheelchair gamers in Australia proceed to be nice mentors for the nation’s prime junior athletes, even providing phrases of recommendation earlier than they set off to the US Open.
“Heath (Davidson) has given me some ideas of the place to go in New York, in order that’s cool,” Gillespie, Australia’s top-ranked junior lady, mentioned.
“I’m trying ahead to trying round and simply soaking all of it in.”
Aussies in motion – US Open
COMING UP
Boys’ wheelchair singles, quarterfinals
Benjamin Wenzel (AUS) v [1] Maximilian Taucher (AUT), Courtroom 14, first match (from 1am AEST)
Jin Woodman (AUS) v Yassin Hill (AUS), Courtroom 14, third match
Ladies’ wheelchair singles, quarterfinals
Isla Gillespie (AUS) v Frederique Berube Perron (CAN), Courtroom 14, second match
Discover your approach to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
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