SMASH FOR CASH
Moerani Bouzige and his investors are working on many happy returns
MOERANI Bouzige is pursuing his dreams of a professional tennis career in a way never before seen by Sam Stosur’s former longtime coach.
Bouzige is being backed by a small group of investors headed by Prasanth Saravanabhava, footing the steep travel and accommodation costs involved with taking a budding career on the international stage.
The 18-year-old is currently midway through the four-year agreement and, should he go on to win tournaments, will provide a return on investment through that prizemoney.
“Without their funding it would be really tough to get to these tournaments and without these tournaments you probably can’t get your ranking up,” said Bouzige, who recently played in Hong Kong and Vietnam.
“That’s pretty much everything in tennis, getting your ranking up and playing those higher tournaments.”
Because he bases himself at Miami tennis club with coaches Nick Watkins – who guided Stosur as an up-andcomer – and Mitch Walden, he misses out on Tennis Australia funding that comes with centralised training.
Watkins said Bouzige’s funding model was unique. “Especially in tennis because there is 84 countries in the world producing tennis players and there is only 150 people making a living,” he said.
“For investors to come along and put substantial money into him over a fouryear period, it’s very, very risky. I have never heard of it before where businesspeople are prepared to invest in a big way into a tennis player.”
A return on investment could be around the corner, however, if plans to have him debut at the Australian Open next year come to fruition.
“Hopefully, if I do well I get into qualifying or maybe even a wildcard,” Bouzige said.
“I played Australian Open juniors twice so I guess I have got a little bit of experience but it wouldn’t be the same, the seniors. It would be awesome.”
After missing eight months due to wrist injuries, Bouzige doesn’t currently hold an ATP world ranking – making that his No.1 focus.
“This year’s realistic goal is about 750 in the world but I don’t see why I couldn’t be higher than that,” he said.
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE WHERE BUSINESSPEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO INVEST IN A BIG WAY INTO A TENNIS PLAYER COACH NICK WATKINS