Rising Australian star Kimiko Cooper has claimed a 14 and under singles title on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour in Austria.
Kufstein, Austria, 25 July 2022 | tennis.com.au
Five Australian junior players reached the final rounds of the Sparkasse Bambini Cup, part of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour, on clay in Kufstein, Austria over the weekend.
Kimiko Cooper (NSW), Sara Nikolic (WA), Renee Alame (NSW) and Koharu Nishikawa (Vic) reached the final four of the 64-player 14/u girls’ tournament, an exciting feat in itself.
Fourteen-year-old Cooper came out on top, defeating fellow state player Alame 2-6 6-2 6-2 to win the European title.
“It was a good opportunity to have a win. It was a good experience, a tough three-setter. She (Alame) played really well, really aggressively,” Cooper said after the final.
“I’ve had a good week of tennis being able to play on the clay, it suits my game style.”
Cooper, who won the 14/u Australian Claycourt Championships in Canberra in April, said her first international tour has been a valuable experience.
“I’ve learnt to be independent, to be able to get ready for my match and look after myself properly,” she said.
“It’s been really valuable to be able to play a lot of different people from different countries. To get the opportunity to see how people my age from different countries play and to be able to get the opportunity to compete in different countries, with different climates and different surfaces.”
The future looks bright✨
Four Australian girls started in the 64-draw 14u Tennis Europe tournament in Kufstein, Austria. In a milestone feat, they’re the final four who’ll contest the semifinals
Congrats Kimiko Cooper, Koharu Nishikawa, Renee Alame & Sara Nikolic #GoAussies🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/AxWIhjGJBy
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) July 22, 2022
Australia was represented by Daniel Jovanovski (Vic) in the final round of the 14/u boys’ competition. He lost to third seed Thilo Behrmann of Austria in the final, 7-5 3-6 7-5.
Tennis Australia’s Tours, Camps and College Manager Rohan Fisher said it was a memorable week for the junior playing group in Austria.
“To be here at the 14/u event, to see three finalists and another two semifinalists, the first time these players have been to Europe, has been an unbelievable result for all players,” Fisher said.
The last couple of months has seen a number of Australian juniors in 12/u, 13/u, 14/u and…
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