RISING STARS SERVE UP TENNIS ACTION IN HOBART
A QUARTET of rising Australian tennis stars, including the highest ranked 14 year old in the world, will grace the courts of Hobart this weekend for a chance to shine at the Hobart International.
Gold Coast prodigy Emerson Jones, Brisbane’s Lily Taylor (16), and 17-yearold duo Lily Fairclough (WA) and Zara Larke (Vic) will all take centre stage at the Domain after receiving wildcards into qualifying for the state’s biggest tennis event.
Jones, the daughter of former Olympic triathlon silver medallist Loretta Jones (Harrop), is the top ranked 2008-born female player in the world and is Australia’s second-highest ranked ITF junior (18 and under) with a global ranking of 35.
Despite being one of the youngest to ever compete in qualifying for the event, Jones said she wouldn’t be daunted against her likely much older and more experienced opponents.
“I’m pretty excited as it’s a new experience,” the young star said.
“I don’t really have any expectations, I’ll just compete and see how I go.
“It’s pretty exciting that I get this opportunity.”
Likewise, Taylor, who started playing tennis through her dad’s love for the sport, said she was excited to play in Hobart as she looked to continue to develop her game.
“They told me I might be able to get a wildcard to come here and I thought it was a really good opportunity,” the 16-yearold from Brisbane said.
“My main purpose of this is to have a crack … and have some fun and experience the high level.”
Qualifying will take place across Saturday and Sunday with the top four players making it through to the main draw which begins on Monday.