Grace, who began playing tennis at the age of four, won the ultimate tennis adventure through her participation in Hot Shots Tennis.
The program provides a fun way for children to play and learn tennis, with various stages that tailor racquets and court sizes to kids’ age and ability.
“I love playing games with my friends and learning new skills. It’s really fun and makes me feel happy,” Grace said.
Winning a trip to the Australian Open turned out to be an incredible bonus, with Grace chosen to do the coin toss for Novak Djokovic’s Round 2 match against Francesco Maestrelli.
“It felt amazing and a little bit scary! I was nervous, but also really excited because it was such a big moment. It was something I've never done! Walking out onto the court made me feel like a real tennis player. The crowd was so big and loud.”
Grace’s mum Tessa Steele said amongst the many highlights, was a player meet and greet with Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
“Watching the girls meet Ajla was such a proud moment. She was so warm and genuine with them, and you could just see how much it meant. As a parent, it’s really special to see your children inspired like that,” Tessa said.
The adventure has also sparked a new level of excitement for tennis, Tessa says.
“We’ve been hiring our local court and heading down as a family, which has been such a nice way to spend time together. Their confidence has grown, and they’re so motivated to keep improving,” she said.
“The whole experience was honestly just magical. It’s something we’ll always be grateful for. Not only was it an incredible opportunity, but it’s also brought us closer together as a family and created memories that we’ll never forget. It’s definitely sparked a lifelong love of tennis in our home.”