Rising tennis stars bound for Spain

A DOZEN Central Victorian players are preparing for a trip of a lifetime to Spain to further their tennis education.

The group, led by Aidan Fitzgerald, head coach of Bendigo coach group GIANT Tennis, will spend two weeks training at the prestigious Emilio Sanchez Academy in Barcelona.

The academy is renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities, experienced coaches and a holistic approach to player development.

Their international training camp will include high-level coaching, competitive match play and cultural immersion, in what Fitzgerald declared as ‘an incredible development opportunity for these committed athletes.’

“The idea is to get them to understand what the required standard is to progress their tennis and to see how the rest of the world trains,” he said.

“Spain is probably the benchmark in the world in terms of culture.

“I thought, what better way than to go see it ourselves.”

The squad, which trains every Monday night at the Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre on Nolan Street, comprises players from Bendigo, Echuca, Kyneton and Shepparton.

They range in age from 13 to 22.

Fitzgerald could not speak more highly of the tennis culture in Spain, which has produced such tennis greats as 22-time Grand Slam singles title winner Rafael Nadal, former world singles and doubles number one Arantxa Sánchez Vicario and current world number two Carlos Alcaraz, French Open winner Carlos Moya and 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez.

“The way they teach is predominantly on clay courts, which opens up a whole different world of tennis,” he said.

“It’s a very different culture to Australia.

“Melbourne still has a few clay courts, but they are slowly dying off, which is a shame.”

Due to depart in September, Fitzgerald said the squad had been working tirelessly in preparation.

“We’ve been running the squad the last couple of years and some of them are really starting to improve and are playing in bigger tournaments and really looking at where the future lies,” he said.

“Whether that is looking at college tennis in the States as an option or playing in some more high-profile junior events.

“Hopefully they learn plenty and bring it back and that becomes our standard.”

The squad has been busy fundraising, organising various activities and reaching out to the community for support.

GIANT Tennis, which runs programs at the South Bendigo and Maiden Gully tennis clubs, as well as the regional centre, hosted a community tournament last Sunday and will hold another one in July to be complemented by a one-point tournament and sausage sizzle.

To assist with sponsorship or to get involved in fundraising, visit gianttennis.com.au/fundraising. For more information visit gianttennis.com.au/trip-overview.