Kimiko Cooper: A rising star of Australian tennis | 20 October, 2023 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Meet Kimiko Cooper, a 15-year-old from Sydney who’s considered one of Australia’s most promising junior abilities.

Sydney, Australia, 20 October 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Kimiko Cooper is a younger Aussie on the rise.

The 15-year-old from Sydney has contested 5 junior singles finals, and received three titles, on the ITF World Tennis Tour up to now in 2023. This helped Cooper break into the world’s high 200 within the junior rankings in September.

Cooper additionally performed a key function as New South Wales claimed the Wayne Reid Cup on the 2023 Australian Groups Nationwide Championships in July and was invited to take part on the inaugural Tennis Australia Expertise Mix final month.

In our sequence profiling Australia’s most promising junior gamers, Cooper displays on her favorite tennis experiences up to now …

Inform us about your begin in tennis?

I used to be 4 and my mother and father put me in multi-sports classes, the place we did a unique sport each week. One of many weeks was tennis and I actually loved it, so that they signed me up for extra classes.

What do you take pleasure in most about tennis?

I like competing. I like taking part in in opposition to everybody and giving it my all out on the court docket. And, in fact, successful.

What has been the spotlight of your tennis journey up to now?

Successful two back-to-back ITF junior titles on the Gold Coast, then I obtained to a remaining in Malaysia to crack the world’s high 200.

What are your objectives for the subsequent six months?

I’m wanting ahead to taking part in at Traralgon and the AO in January. I’m hoping I can do properly there.

The place is the favorite place you’ve travelled up to now along with your tennis?

My favorite place might be Miami (within the USA). I went to Orange Bowl on the finish of final 12 months and likewise travelled to Miami once more in April. It was very nice.

What retains you busy once you’re not taking part in tennis?

I like hanging out with my pals, spending time with my household. After I’m travelling abroad I don’t see them quite a bit, so once I’m at house, I attempt to benefit from it.

How would your loved ones and pals describe you?

Aggressive.

How troublesome is it juggling competitors and faculty?

I do on-line college, so I’m in a position to do it at my very own tempo. After I’m not on tour or taking part in, I attempt to get my college work accomplished so I don’t get too far behind. Science is my favorite topic.

For those who weren’t pursuing tennis, what profession would you contemplate?

I’d wish to do sports activities physiotherapy, so I may assist tennis gamers and different athletes recuperate and get higher from accidents.

How have been the most important inspirations in your tennis journey up to now?

Caroline Wozniacki, as a result of I play quite a bit like her. It’s nice to see comeback after having youngsters and doing properly.

Are you hoping to see Wozniacki on the Australian Open in 2024?

If she’s there, I’m hoping I can get an autograph.

Who’s essentially the most well-known tennis participant you’ve met?

Ash Barty. I obtained her to signal an enormous tennis ball on the Australian Open in 2017. I additionally obtained Alex de Minaur’s autograph as properly.

Did attending the Australian Open encourage you much more to chase your personal tennis desires?

Yeah, it was loopy to see all the professionals dwell. It was actually inspirational to see the place I wish to be.

What wouldn’t it imply to you to get to play on the Australian Open at some point?

It might be loopy. I performed qualifying (in juniors) firstly of the 12 months, but it surely was performed off website (in Traralgon). It was nonetheless nice to see the extent. Hopefully I can play important draw subsequent 12 months and take a look at myself in opposition to the highest juniors on this planet.

Ebook on-line, play immediately: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!