Proud First Nations woman and reality television star Brooke Blurton reflects on Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty’s impact in our Celebrity Match series.
Melbourne, Australia, 14 June 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Brooke Blurton is a youth worker and mental health advocate. Her public profile has grown through a number appearances on Australian reality television programs, including The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise and The Challenge.
The proud Indigenous woman created worldwide history in 2021 as the first bisexual lead in The Bachelorette franchise. She also hosts a weekly podcast, Not So PG, and last year published her memoir, Big Love.
In our Celebrity Match series, Blurton speaks about her tennis experiences and the importance of representation and diversity in the sport …
Tell us about your tennis experience. Have you played before?
Not competitively, but I’ve absolutely played socially. We didn’t have tennis in the country town where I grew up, but as an adult I’ve really learned to love the game. I’ve been going to the Australian Open every year since 2020. My best friend is a huge Australian Open fan and loves tennis, so I often go with her.
What do you enjoy about playing tennis?
It’s great for fitness, because it makes you super active. I’ve always enjoyed playing sport, but I’m not very good at playing tennis. So for me, it’s more about (enjoying) the challenge and trying to get better.
Who are your favourite Australian players to watch?
We have such great athletes in Australia and it is amazing to see them perform. I loved watching Dylan Alcott and really enjoy watching Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis too. I don’t want to be too cliche, but I also loved Ash Barty.
Who is your favourite tennis player of all time?
Because my mum and my nan loved her, it is Evonne Goolagong Cawley. She is obviously a legend of the game and I remember hearing a lot about her when I was younger. She was a prominent name that my nan would bring up. Evonne set such a high standard as an athlete and a role model. For me, growing up knowing how amazing she was, not just on the Australian level but also at a global level, it showed that there is more out there in the world. I see this now working with young people as a youth worker, they don’t always know what is out there in the world and it’s important to teach them that there is so much that they can do and that they should shoot for the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Tennis.com.au – Tennis Australia…