Teen star hopes to hit her stride
Cairns International brings homegrown and global talent to town
BEATRICE Hetrel has her first ranking point on her mind.
The promising teenager will be in action tomorrow at the final event of the Australian Pro Tour swing, the 2017 Cairns Tennis International, as Hetrel strives to qualify for the main draw of the tournament.
Hetrel, from Melbourne, has had a tough few weeks, failing to qualify at tournaments in Toowoomba, Brisbane and Penrith but the 18year-old was on court early yesterday morning to prepare for her chance to make it through in the Far North.
“The aim is to qualify and mainly I am aiming to get my first point,” Hetrel said.
“To get my first ranking point would be really nice.
“It is probably the hardest thing to do, getting that first ranking point, but once you get it, it means it is all worth it and you can keep on moving up.”
The right-hander will be one of dozens of budding tennis stars on court in Cairns over the next few days, trying to make their way into the main draw proper, which starts on Tuesday.
“I am feeling pretty good, it is my second swing in these type of tournaments,” Hetrel said. “I am really enjoying it and hopefully I can do well over the next few days.”
In total, 17 countries will be represented at the tournament over the next week or so, including Great Britain, Germany, Japan, China, Switzerland, Ukraine and the USA, aiming to grab the $25,000 on offer for both men and women.
Top seed in the men’s draw is world No.239 Blake Mott from Victoria, who was runner up in 2016, while leading the women’s field is world No.146 Asia Muhammad (USA), with second seed and defending champion Olivia Rogowska (Victoria) returning.
For Gold Coast’s Ben Mitchell, a wildcard, Cairns is just his fourth tournament back after taking 12 months off following the birth of his daughter, and his immediate results are impressive.
“Things have settled down off the court so now I really want to try and focus on the court. I don’t want to have any regrets when I’m older and that’s the main reason for having another crack,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell came runner-up in the Brisbane QTC International Pro Tour last week – just his second tournament back – and today plays in the quarterfinal at the Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International.
IT IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING TO DO, GETTING THAT FIRST RANKING POINT, BUT ONCE YOU GET IT, IT MEANS IT IS ALL WORTH IT AND YOU CAN KEEP ON MOVING UP BEATRICE HETREL