Giselle Guillen from New South Wales is the 16-and-under girls’ singles champion at the 2023 December Showdown.
Melbourne, Australia , 16 December 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Giselle Guillen has been crowned the girls’ singles champion at the 16-and-under Australian Junior Tour Masters.
It caps a perfect week for the 15-year-old from New South Wales, who did not concede a set throughout her title-winning run at the 2023 December Showdown.
“I’m so happy,” Guillen beamed after recording a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory against South Australian Kristina Tai in today’s final at Melbourne Park.
“I’m also kind of relieved because it was such a tough match. Kristina is such a great competitor.”
After storming into the final in convincing fashion, Guillen was determined to maintain that momentum against Tai, who was her doubles partner this week.
“I was nervous, but I was just telling myself to compete out there and give it my all,” Guillen said of her pre-match mindset.
“I just wanted to take it point-by-point and not think about the outcome, just play and enjoy it.”
The top-seeded Guillen made a promising start, racing to a 4-1 lead.
However, Tai then won four consecutive games to take control of the match.
It was 16-year-old Tai’s second final appearance at this year’s December Showdown, following the left-hander’s runner-up finish in the 18/u girls’ doubles competition last week.
“She started playing really well and hitting some amazing shots,” Guillen said. “I didn’t really have an answer.”
Tai twice served for the opening set – but was broken each time, with Guillen desperately trying to hang with her big-hitting opponent.
“Obviously I felt a little bit of pressure on me, but I just had to stick to my game and just keep playing the way I play,” Guillen said.
Tai established a 4-2 lead in the opening-set tiebreak, before Guillen claimed six of the next eight points to earn a one-set lead.
“I think it was crucial,” Guillen acknowledged of the absorbing opening set.
“Winning it was a really big momentum change and gave me a bit of a confidence boost.”
As Tai took a bathroom break, Guillen referred to some notes in her tennis bag.
“I like to write some key tips and inspirational quotes to get me going,” Guillen explained. “If I need solutions then I just go through them.”
‘Just believe, get out there and give it your all’ was one of those key messages.
That’s exactly what…
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