Some of Queensland’s best young players have been given the opportunity of a lifetime – they’ve been made hitting partners at the Brisbane International.
Brisbane National Academy members Jason Kubler, Jarryd Chaplin, Andrew McLeod and Mark Richards have all spent the past few days sharing the court with world-class players.
And while the stars of the Brisbane International have had a big effect on their teenage practice partners, it seems that the young players have also made an impression.
World No.15 Verdasco was full of praise for his local hitting partner, 15-year-old Jason Kubler, who last week played in an exhibition match at Pat Rafter Arena with Sam Stosur against Rafter and Isabella Holland.
Speaking at the official draw ceremony in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall, Verdasco told the assembled crowd how surprised he was when Kubler revealed his age to the Spanish Davis Cup star.
“I thought that he was like 17 or 18 … when he told me he was 15 I was a little bit in shock because he hits really good, so I think he can be a very good player.”
Likewise, Kubler was surprised when told of the No.15’s admiration of his game.
“It’s been good hitting with Verdasco the past few days,” Kubler said.
“I must be doing something right, he keeps on wanting to hit with me. He hits a heavier ball than I’m used to, it’s good to hit with someone like that.”
Kubler will soon travel to Melbourne for the Summer circuit and is hoping to receive a wildcard into the Australian Open boys’ championships main draw where he hopes to follow in the footsteps of former winners Brydan Klein and Bernard Tomic who both played in the Brisbane International main draw.
Jarryd Chaplin, a member of the 2008 Junior Davis Cup squad, said the time spent hitting with players like Robin Soderling and Daniela Hantuchova was a step up from what he was used to.
“Being exposed to those sorts of players gives me a platform for where I need to be in tennis,” he says.
For Richards and McLeod, it’s all been about the experience they have gained from hitting with players ranked 100–200 in the world.
“The first few times I was a bit nervous,” Richards admitted. But once he found his rhythm it was business as usual for the 16-year-old Queenslander.
For many the Brisbane International is simply something to sit back and enjoy, but for these potential future stars the opportunities it brings to mix with top-ranked players is an experience that money can’t buy.
And who knows, maybe the next time Verdasco walks on court with Kubler it will be for rankings points, not practice.
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