Young Aussie Tennis Players
US Open, the last grand slam of the year, got underway this week and there has already been some excellent action at Flushing Meadows. In terms of the Aussie competitors Bernard Tomic made heavy weather of reaching the 2nd round and the less said about Sam Stosur's first round exit the better, but there are two young Australian players who have done themselves proud in the first couple of days in New York. Ashleigh Barty and Nick Kyrgios are two teenagers who undeniably have wonderfully bright futures and they have both displayed signs that these futures might possibly be starting now, with great performances this season and recently at Flushing Meadows.
17 yr old Ashleigh Barty offered a quality performance in the US Open 1st round thanks to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Estrella Cabeza Candella. Barty has already tasted success this year in the doubles, winning her first WTA doubles title in Birmingham and also reaching the finals at the Wimbledon and the Australian Open along with her partner Casey Dellacqua. Her victory over Candella at Flushing Meadows however, could be her greatest singles performances to date.
Barty will be facing the experienced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Barty in their only previous meeting earlier this year, so it is sure to be a tough challenge for the young Aussie. Whatever the result of this second round clash however Barty can leave court with her head held high and, together with Kyrgios on the men's side, has demonstrated that the future of Aussie tennis may well be pretty bright.
18 year old Nick Kyrgios only turned pro in 2012, but has been enjoying a bit of a breakthrough year in 2013 at Futures, Challenger and ATP Tour level. The talented young Aussie currently is ranked as the world's #1 junior in the ITF junior's rankings, and in March at Sydney managed to earn the first of what will surely be many Challenger titles. Kyrgios followed this triumph with an superb first ATP Tour scalp when he defeated Radek Stepanek in three tie break sets at the French Open. As well as these landmark firsts at senior level Kyrgios has also managed to capture both the Australian Open junior's singles and the Wimbledon junior's doubles title this year.
Recently Kyrgios won through all four rounds of the US Open qualifying tournament to earn an entry in the first round against number four seed David Ferrer. The young Aussie was never expected to defeat the experienced Spaniard but certainly did not disgrace himself in the 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 defeat to the Wimbledon quarter-finalist. His serve was particularly impressive in delivering eight aces through the match. In the end, however, nerves did seem to tell on Kyrgios with 44 unforced errors contributing to his downfall but his is certainly a name to look out for in the coming years.
17 yr old Ashleigh Barty offered a quality performance in the US Open 1st round thanks to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Estrella Cabeza Candella. Barty has already tasted success this year in the doubles, winning her first WTA doubles title in Birmingham and also reaching the finals at the Wimbledon and the Australian Open along with her partner Casey Dellacqua. Her victory over Candella at Flushing Meadows however, could be her greatest singles performances to date.
Barty will be facing the experienced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated Barty in their only previous meeting earlier this year, so it is sure to be a tough challenge for the young Aussie. Whatever the result of this second round clash however Barty can leave court with her head held high and, together with Kyrgios on the men's side, has demonstrated that the future of Aussie tennis may well be pretty bright.
18 year old Nick Kyrgios only turned pro in 2012, but has been enjoying a bit of a breakthrough year in 2013 at Futures, Challenger and ATP Tour level. The talented young Aussie currently is ranked as the world's #1 junior in the ITF junior's rankings, and in March at Sydney managed to earn the first of what will surely be many Challenger titles. Kyrgios followed this triumph with an superb first ATP Tour scalp when he defeated Radek Stepanek in three tie break sets at the French Open. As well as these landmark firsts at senior level Kyrgios has also managed to capture both the Australian Open junior's singles and the Wimbledon junior's doubles title this year.
Recently Kyrgios won through all four rounds of the US Open qualifying tournament to earn an entry in the first round against number four seed David Ferrer. The young Aussie was never expected to defeat the experienced Spaniard but certainly did not disgrace himself in the 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 defeat to the Wimbledon quarter-finalist. His serve was particularly impressive in delivering eight aces through the match. In the end, however, nerves did seem to tell on Kyrgios with 44 unforced errors contributing to his downfall but his is certainly a name to look out for in the coming years.
