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3 April 2014 | Tennis Tasmania

When eighteen year old Tasmanian Harry Bourchier departed for Thailand a month ago he had a goal of qualifying for the two upcoming junior grand slams (being the French Open and Wimbledon Championships). After 3 weeks away in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines Harry fought through adversity to reach his goals and maintain his junior world ranking which currently sits at 31.

Carrying a niggling injury Harry reached the Semi Final of both singles and doubles at the Chang Thailand Grade 1 ITF in Nonthaburi where after comfortably claiming the first set he dropped two tie-breaks to fall agonizingly short of the final.

From here Harry used his momentum to reach the final of the 23rd Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup in Manilla (Grade 1 ITF). After dropping his opening set of the tournament Harry reeled off eight straight sets placing him in the final. In the end it took the 5th best junior in the world to knock over Harry who had chances in a high quality affair.

Last up on the tour was a trip to Manila, Philippines for the 25th Mitsubishi-Lancer International Junior Championships. After showing he could match it with the world’s best Harry stormed to the semi finals where he lost to eventual champion Ku Keon Kang.

Physically exhausted and slightly hampered by injury Harry was happy he was able to reach his goal of increasing his world junior ranking to play the grand slams. Asked about his results Harry quoted “I was consistently hitting the ball well and felt like I could mix it up with anyone. Injuries hampered my play but I really dug in there and grinded out some solid results”.

National coach – Tasmania Simon Youl was much more buoyed by Harry’s performance quoting “Harry went on this tour with the goal of getting into the French and Wimbledon junior championships. Harry achieved this result on a very tough tour against the best juniors in the world. Harry was able to push through some niggling injuries and produce some fine performances which will give him good match confidence going forward”.

Not to be missed out, 15 year old Catherine Krueger claimed some stellar results over the Labour Day long weekend at the 2014 Victorian Country Championships in Wodonga, Victoria. Krueger adapted well to the natural grass surface claiming four straight set wins en-route to the final where second seeded defending champion Alana Parnaby awaited. After a see-sawing first set which Krueger dropped in a tie break Parnaby was able to arrest control wrapping up the second set and in so the title. A week earlier on Tasmanian shores Krueger claimed the singles and doubles titles at the Clarence Open Bronze Australian Money Tournament serving as crucial match practice before the Victorian Country Championships. Krueger recently became the top ranked woman in Tasmania and is a very exciting prospect to look out for throughout the years ahead.

Next up in Tasmania our attention turns to Launceston for the Tasmanian Easter Championships April 18-20 (Bronze combined AMT/JT) before the Medibank Tasmanian State Age Championships (Silver JT) hits the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart. If that wasn’t enough the swing concludes in Hobart for the Sunshine/Geilston Junior Championships (JT White). We are very excited about the upcoming tournaments to please enter now as entries close shortly. Look forward to seeing everyone shortly.