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The Discovery Thread

192K views 2K replies 56 participants last post by  Daebak. 
#1 · (Edited)
#3 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

no offense, but i think its creepy to be talking about girls that age. they are too young themselves to really know if they want a career in tennis. plus you really can't tell what their tennis future will be like anyway- look at jade hopper.
 
#5 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

no offense, but i think its creepy to be talking about girls that age. they are too young themselves to really know if they want a career in tennis. plus you really can't tell what their tennis future will be like anyway- look at jade hopper.
No offence taken :)
But I don't see how it's ''creepy''...I mean we have heard of the likes of Sharapova and Larcher de Brito from around the same age...why not report on the progress of some of the younger Aussies and Kiwis??
 
#10 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Well regardless of our differing opinions, 14 year old Viktoria Rajicic today won through to the final of the 16s Autumn Nationals, beating Alexandra Nancarrow 6-4 6-0. Nancarrow had earlier taken out the top seed Olivia Rich in 3 sets, so obviously Rajicic is in great form.

In the final, Rajicic faces Mia Vriens. Vriens upset Monika Wejnert 6-4 6-4 in the other semi (but I think Monika might be injured as she and Ashleigh Richardson withdrew in the doubles)
 
#11 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

This means that Rajicic is the youngest player to make the final of a 16s Nationals since Tyra Calderwood won the 16s Grasscourt Nationals in 2004, aged 13 years and 7 months. I'm barracking for Rajicic to win the title :bounce:
 
#12 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Viktorija lost the final to Mia Vriens 6-3 3-6 6-4 ... bad luck but congratulations on an awesome week :)
Viktorija is now joined by Molly Polak and Rachel Pisarev for the World Junior Tennis Competition Asia/Pacific Qualifying Event in China next week
 
#14 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Australia has progressed through to the semi finals of the World Junior Tennis Competition in Shenzhen, China. Seeded fourth, Viktorija Rajicic, Molly Polak and Rachel Pisarev have done the nation proud...but unlike their male counterparts (who basically received daily write ups on the TA site) have yet to rate a mention on the TA site. The boys finished third overall, and the girls have a good chance to make the final...
Once again, Rajicic has been the star for Australia...she is undefeated winning her singles against Kazkhstan 4-6 6-2 6-1. She also won the doubles with Polak 6-1 6-2. Then against the Philippines, Rajicic won 6-0 6-0 and with Polak won the doubles 6-1 6-2. Against New Zealand, Rajicic thrashed Kiwi No.1 Leela Beattie 6-3 6-0. And yesterday in the quarter final, she won her match against the Indian No.1 6-2 6-1.

Polak has also been just as capable, winning all of her singles matches in straight sets, not dropping any more than 3 games in her matches...obviously she too is in great form :)

Today in the semis, the girls take on Uzbekistan who have beaten both top seeds Japan and second seeds Thailand...it will be very tough...but I have faith ;)

Looks like Victoria has a couple more rising stars in Polak and Rajicic :)
 
#21 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Teiwa Casey is definately one to watch!!
In light of this comment, and the double baegel by Abbie Myers down at Mildura at the Autumn Nationals, shouldn't one assume that she should be the one to watch?

Even if Casey was having a bad day, who wins a national title 6/0 6/0?

Looks like we might have another Wimbledon champ on our hands!

GO THE AUSSIES!

and by the way, by looking at results, why wasn't Myers in the world team?
 
#16 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Have you seen her play, Rick? Her results have certainly been quite impressive for someone so young

I saw Lyann Hoang training the other day...she looks quite good, tall and strong for her age...very nice fluent backhand which was always very deep and penetrating. Hope she can do some good things in the future too :)
 
#17 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

seriously, these are the girls that need to be at the AIS. not 16-18 year olds - we need to start developing our players younger. they do in every other country. by 18 they should be on their own i reckon.
 
#18 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Teiwa is developing quite a nice game.....she's not a huge hitter of the ball but for a slight physique certainly packs a punch.........definately in the mold of jess moore in terms of being a very clever player....always wrong footing opponents!!

Very cool calm and collected too....a huge asset!!
 
#19 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

The Aussie girls, like the boys, ended up finishing 3rd ... great effort ;) They easily beat the top seeded team - Japan - 3-0.
Rajicic won in 3 and Polak smashed her opponent in 2. They then combined to win the doubles.
So they are off to the Czech Republic :banana: first time an Aussie girls team has made it since 2005
 
#20 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread

Here's an article (finally) on the girls from TA Website and a pic of Rajicic


The Optus Australian World Junior Tennis Competition team of Viktorija Rajicic (Vic), Molly Polak (Vic) and Rachel Pisarev (NSW) has qualified for the world final, to be held in Prostejov, Czech Republic, in August.
The fourth-seeded Australian team finished third in the Asia–Oceania qualifying event held last week in Shenzhen, China. China, Uzbekistan and Japan have also progressed through to the world final.
After a clean sweep over round-robin opponents Kazakhstan, Philippines and New Zealand, the girls went on to win 2-1 over India in the quarterfinals, before going down to Uzbekistan in the semis. The team rallied on the final day to win 2-0 over top seed Japan to finish third overall.
National touring coach Lisa McShea said, “The girls worked really hard for the whole event, doing everything they possibly could to win every single match. It was terrific to finish on such a high note, defeating the top seeds, Japan. The girls have had a wonderful experience and are now looking forward to the world final later this year.”
The ITF World Junior Tennis Competition is an international team event for boys and girls aged 14 and under. In 2007 the Optus Australian World Junior Tennis Competition team of Jason Kubler, Joey Swaysland and Ben Wagland won the world final.
The ITF World Junior Tennis Competition began 16 years ago. Past participants in the event include Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy Haas, Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters.
 
#23 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread ... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3

Bump!

I just noticed that at the Wilson Series Open AR 3, Molly Polak won the women's singles title. Whilst she didn;t have to beat anyone outstanding, she did play another talented 14 year old in the final, Azra Hadzic. Polak won 6-1 6-4. There are a few details about the two girls in the first post.

What I thought to be more interesting was an appearance by Anne Minter, who reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open back in the mid-late 1980's. Now aged 45, she beat the top seed 6-2 6-2 to make the semi finals where she lost to Azra Hadzic 2-6 7-5 6-2...

Thought some of our more matured aged posters would like to know how Anne went :), did anyone see her play back in the day? What was she like?
 
#24 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread ... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3

Bump!

I just noticed that at the Wilson Series Open AR 3, Molly Polak won the women's singles title. Whilst she didn;t have to beat anyone outstanding, she did play another talented 14 year old in the final, Azra Hadzic. Polak won 6-1 6-4. There are a few details about the two girls in the first post.

What I thought to be more interesting was an appearance by Anne Minter, who reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open back in the mid-late 1980's. Now aged 45, she beat the top seed 6-2 6-2 to make the semi finals where she lost to Azra Hadzic 2-6 7-5 6-2...

Thought some of our more matured aged posters would like to know how Anne went :), did anyone see her play back in the day? What was she like?
Anne Minter!! :eek:
I remember vaguely (was very young at the time) some highlights of her playing Wimbledon one year.
She could rival Lisa McShea for the most painful commentator of the century award though, fortunately the commentating didn't last long.
 
#25 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

My god Anne's back playing :eek: Not a bad effort from her. I remember Dianne Balestrat beating top 300 ranked Gail Biggs a few years back. It shows that even in retirement you don't lose your talent.
Anne was more than a capable player. Claimed the scalps of Evert, Shriver, Mandlikova, Sukova, Maleeva, Garrison, McNeil and her Fed Cup record was great despite never hitting the top 20 (22 was her highest rank). One Aus Open qtr-final, 2 Wimbledon 4R's and a Us Open 4R and I think she won 3 tour titles??? - 2 of those back to back :eek:
Baseliner, single hand backhand, good mover, but just didn't have a killer shot to make it in the top 20. Her biggest loss was in the qtr-finals Fed Cup in Melbourne in 1988 when she led Claudia Kodhe Kilsch 6-1 3-1 and had points for 4-1, and lost it 6-3 in the 3rd.
 
#26 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

My god Anne's back playing :eek: Not a bad effort from her. I remember Dianne Balestrat beating top 300 ranked Gail Biggs a few years back. It shows that even in retirement you don't lose your talent.
Anne was more than a capable player. Claimed the scalps of Evert, Shriver, Mandlikova, Sukova, Maleeva, Garrison, McNeil and her Fed Cup record was great despite never hitting the top 20 (22 was her highest rank). One Aus Open qtr-final, 2 Wimbledon 4R's and a Us Open 4R and I think she won 3 tour titles??? - 2 of those back to back :eek:
Baseliner, single hand backhand, good mover, but just didn't have a killer shot to make it in the top 20. Her biggest loss was in the qtr-finals Fed Cup in Melbourne in 1988 when she led Claudia Kodhe Kilsch 6-1 3-1 and had points for 4-1, and lost it 6-3 in the 3rd.
in that case, how did she lose to the 14 yr old :eek:
 
#29 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

Well isn't it obvious that she probably hasn't played much competitive tennis at all over the past 10/15 years...
Or maybe Azra is awesome :lol: :angel:
To beat Anne (who incidently is one of my all time favorites) Azra is obviously awesome :lol:
 
#28 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

i remember a few years ago another retired player in her 40s came back and played the equivalent of what is now an AMT, and she won the title. it was on grass, i think she might have beaten kriz, or maybe sewell, possibly both but she definitely beat some good players, anyone else have any idea what im talking about??
 
#30 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

well its pretty awesome at the age of 14 to be able to say you've beaten someone who's beaten chris evert
 
#31 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

I certainly remember Anne Minter. I was fairly young during her playing years, but old enough to remember some of her matches. I never really considered myself a fan of hers though. Something about her that gave me the shits. Can't quite put my finger on it...might be that annoying 80s headband she used to wear.
 
#32 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

I rememeber her really well. She had a great forehand and her serve was o.k. Movement was not her strong point and her backhand was not great. She had some great wins over people such as Virginia Wade and Dianne Fromholtz. She was a real stalwart for us in Fed Cup and she also had a sister called Liz who won the US Open Juniors. Catarina Lindqvist was her great mate on tour and when Anne had her first daughter she named her Catarina after her. I always felt that she was overlooked by TA as she was just a sort of plodder but very consistent. She was always very nice.
 
#33 ·
Re: The ''Discovery'' Thread... How did Anne Minter go at the Wilson Series Open AR3?

I always felt that she was overlooked by TA as she was just a sort of plodder but very consistent. She was always very nice.
The bar was alot higher in the 1980's than now - near top 20 didn't cut it when Anne came on the tour after the likes of Turnbull, Fromholtz etc... reached the top 5. We'd be hailing her as a queen if she was playing now!
 
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