{"id":8961,"date":"2026-02-11T16:52:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/?p=8961"},"modified":"2026-02-11T16:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T07:23:34","slug":"nt-superstar-at-the-super-10s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/news\/2026\/02\/11\/nt-superstar-at-the-super-10s","title":{"rendered":"NT Superstar at the Super 10&#8217;s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8966\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/files\/2026\/02\/Screenshot-2026-02-11-161858.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"669\" height=\"517\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/compete\/performance\/super-10s#about-super-10s\"><b data-path-to-node=\"3\" data-index-in-node=\"4\">Tennis Australia Super 10s National Camp<\/b><\/a> is more than just a tournament; it is a developmental milestone that brings together the country\u2019s most promising 10-and-under athletes. Held amidst the electric atmosphere of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, the program blends elite match play with &#8220;money can&#8217;t buy&#8221; experiences, fostering both technical skill and the development of young tennis-stars.<\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"4\">For participant <b data-path-to-node=\"4\" data-index-in-node=\"16\">Hanna <\/b>(Darwin International Tennis Centre player), the camp provided a unique window into the life of a professional athlete. From masterclasses with Grand Slam champions to the grit of court maintenance, here is a look at the program through the eyes of a rising star.<\/p>\n<h3 data-path-to-node=\"4\">BUILDING CONNECTIONS THROUGH TENNIS<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Super 10s program emphasizes teamwork and connection, bringing together players who have progressed through the Green Ball pathway. For many, it is a chance to turn rivals into teammates.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;I enjoyed it very much because I made many new friends, I saw friends I made in Green Ball Nationals, and I learned more about tennis,&#8221; Hanna noted. &#8220;All of the players are good at attacking, defensive, and neutral balls.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">LEARNING FROM THE WORLD&#8217;S BEST<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>A hallmark of the National Camp is the access to elite mentors. This year, legends like <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"88\">Ash Barty<\/b> and current stars like <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"121\">Storm Hunter<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"138\">Maddison Inglis<\/b> led sessions focused on the &#8220;mental game&#8221;, teaching the children that success is as much about mindset as it is about a swing.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert;color: initial\">&#8220;We had lessons on how they manage their emotions on and off the court,&#8221; Hanna explained. &#8220;I remember <strong>Maddison Inglis<\/strong> said for us to run after every ball&#8230; I applied this to my matches. When my opponent smashed on my backhand, I ran and returned it with a slice, and it went in and I won the point!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>On the influence of former World No. 1 <strong>Ash Barty<\/strong>, Hanna added:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert;color: initial\">&#8220;Ash Barty is very good at controlling her emotions&#8230; she told us to enjoy tennis.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ON THE MAIN STAGE: THE COIN TOSS<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One of the most prestigious opportunities within the program is being selected for an official Australian Open coin toss. Standing on the championship courts alongside global icons like <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"186\">Coco Gauff<\/b> and <b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"201\">Elina Svitolina<\/b> bridges the gap between a child&#8217;s dream and their reality.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&#8220;I was very happy that I could do a coin toss in the quarter finals because they are both wonderful players and it felt like a dream come true.&#8221;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OBSERVING THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARD<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Beyond their own matches, Super 10s players are encouraged to observe professional practice sessions. This provides a rare perspective on the sheer physical intensity required at the top level, details that are often lost when being watched on a screen.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert;color: initial\">&#8220;It was very cool seeing a professional player not on a TV,&#8221; Hanna observed. &#8220;On the TV, it doesn\u2019t look like the ball is as fast, but in reality, it is faster and powerful. I still remember the ball sound. It was very exciting watching players like Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner practice up close.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ACROSS ALL SURFACES<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The program challenges players to adapt by providing training on grass, clay, and indoor surfaces. This exposure is vital for developing &#8220;all-court&#8221; players who can handle the different speeds and bounces of the global circuit.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert;color: initial\">&#8220;I enjoyed playing on the clay courts, but it is hard work to maintain them,&#8221; Hanna said. &#8220;The ball bounce is almost unpredictable on bumpy surfaces&#8230; every set, you must bag the courts, then you spray them with water to make them damp.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">LESSONS IN RESILIENCE FROM WHEELCHAIR TENNIS<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Super 10s also highlights the diversity of the sport. Watching the Wheelchair Tennis championships left a lasting impression on the juniors regarding the sheer athleticism and tenacity of the competitors.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert;color: initial\">&#8220;Wheelchair tennis is much harder,&#8221; Hanna reflected. &#8220;If you think the opponent is not going to reach the ball, they sometimes do, and it looks so tricky. I don\u2019t think I will be able to play wheelchair tennis because I cannot push myself far with a wheelchair!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">COMING HOME<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Super 10s National Camp at the Australian Open continues to be a cornerstone of the Australian tennis pathway. By combining high-level competition with the inspiration of Melbourne Park, the program ensures that players like Hanna return home not just with better stats, but with a deeper love for the game and inspiration for the year ahead.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>More opportunities await, with the next season of Super 10&#8217;s for 2026 coming in Term 3! Stay tuned with more information about how to register your child by following our socials.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>See more about her journey on our&nbsp;<span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/media\/set\/?set=a.1500212465440631&amp;type=3\">Facebook Album<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:tadv\/classic-paragraph \/-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Tennis Australia Super 10s National Camp is more than just a tournament; it is a developmental milestone that brings together the country\u2019s most promising 10-and-under athletes. Held amidst the electric atmosphere of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, the program blends elite match play with &#8220;money can&#8217;t buy&#8221; experiences, fostering both technical skill and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6428,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6428"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8961\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/nt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}