Meet Ymerali Ibraimi, a 14-year-old from Melbourne and one of Australia’s most promising junior talents.
Melbourne, Australia, 24 November 2023 | Rhys de Deugd
Ymerali Ibraimi is one of Australia’s brightest junior prospects.
The 14-year-old from Victoria was a strong performer at the 2022 December Showdown, took part in a European junior tour with Tennis Australia earlier this year and attended the inaugural Talent Combine in Brisbane in September.
Ibraimi achieved a career-best result on the ITF Tennis World Junior Tour last week, progressing to his first singles final at a J30 tournament in Perth.
In our series profiling Australia’s most promising junior players, Ibraimi reveals his talents outside of tennis and his unique fan experiences …
How did you get started in tennis?
It started when I was able to walk. My dad would give me a little racquet and a balloon, and I would go in the garage and try to hit as hard as I could. Yeah, that’s how it all started.
Is your dad a big tennis fan?
Yes! My dad is an all sports fan, but mostly tennis because he loved watching all the players on TV, especially Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.
What do you enjoy about tennis?
I enjoy the competitiveness and the grind. Just running side-to-side on the court, I really enjoying the grind.
What has been the biggest highlight of your tennis journey so far?
The highlight would probably be, winning two tournaments in a row, in Melbourne. One in Frankston, one in Pakenham. That was one of the biggest moments of my tennis career.
Have you travelled much with your tennis?
Yes. Tennis Australia took me for a Europe trip and I really, really enjoyed the experience there. I was in France, Germany and Belgium.
What were the biggest lessons you learned from Europe?
That there’s more players out there than just playing in Australia, and that it’s a big competitive sport. It’s a worldly sport and you just got to be patient and and just work hard.
Have you modelled your game off any particular players?
Nick Kyrgios. Just big serve, forehand and backhand.
What do you like about Nick’s game?
Just the way he’s able to serve. Just serve all these games out super easily, and he’s also got great hands at the net.
Ymerali Ibraimi in action at the 2022 December Showdown. Picture: Tennis Australia
What is your favourite tennis experience as a fan?
I’ve met Novak Djokovic at the AO when I was in the Super 10’s. He was training and we…
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