Time to raise a racket
Students from Waimea Heights Primary School had the blessing of their teachers to make an almighty racket yesterday.
Aussie tennis champ Todd Woodbridge, pictured, lobbed in for a visit yesterday to deliver racquets and tips for budding young players as part of a national program to promote the sport.
And it wasn’t just the kids who were aced by the former doubles star – teachers were also keen to meet one half of the famous tennis Woodies.
IT was game, set and match for Todd Woodbridge as the Aussie tennis champion visited a Hobart school wowing students and teachers alike.
The visit was part of the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Racquet Roadshow, which will see a total of 110,000 tennis racquets delivered to students across the country by the end of the year.
The aim is to encourage more children to learn tennis as part of their health and physical education curriculum.
Yesterday Woodbridge, a 22-time grand slam champion, delivered brand new racquets to students at Waimea Heights Primary School and South Hobart Primary School.
Waimea Heights Primary School teacher Maureen French said Woodbridge had proved an ace with the prep students as he handed over more than 50 racquets.
“He had this sports bag and inside wrapped up in a towel were his Olympic gold and silver medals he had won with Mark Woodforde,” Ms French said.
“He also had his Wimbledon trophy.”
She said teachers were just as excited to meet one half of the Woodies.
“There was a lot of staff that were very interested in meeting him,” she said.
After the presentation of the racquets, the students got to have a hit-out on the school’s tennis courts with the former doubles star. Ms French said Woodbridge handled all the questions from the students like a pro apart from one question that left him speechless.
“One of the little boys asked him if he could eat his dinner out of his Wimbledon trophy,” she said.
Woodbridge will visit Burnie Primary School today.