Smith’s keen and ready to rumble Europe main focus

JP Smith has “unfinished business” on the court.

The Townsville professional will fly out of North Queensland tomorrow on the hunt for more international experience.

Smith, who is ranked 304 in the world, is expected to set up a temporary base in Germany as he hunts more time on the European tour.

It is the 31-year-old’s first steps towards returning to the majors at next year’s Australian Open.

Smith has not played a professional game since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of Townsville Tennis stalwart Wayne Hannah.

He took time to come to terms with the loss of his mentor before stepping into his shoes and leading the coaching at the North Ward club as it searched for a longterm replacement.

While he has fallen in love with the community side of the game, and doing the hard yards to get more kids on court, Smith said he was not ready to leave the competitive life behind.

“I feel like I have so much unfinished business left on the tour. I am 31 but I feel I have so many good years of tennis left in me,” he said.

“Once you are done, you are done. I have enjoyed the time off and mentally I feel ready to get back into the grind. Physically it might take me a little bit, but you have to make that first step.

“Getting used to that routine and getting used to playing the best in the world could take some time. I just want to stay upbeat over there, you just have to play and have to enjoy it. I think I am ready to rumble, I have that feeling again.”

Smith said there was a little bit of fear about emerging from the Covidsafe bubble that had enveloped North Queensland. But with time running out before the Australian summer of tennis, he had to take the leap.

“(Playing the Open) is a huge goal. I haven’t played this whole year so my ranking has taken a bit of a hit,” he said.

“That is why I am going now. It is never going to be a good time to travel, but we just have to take it one week at a time. It is a bit of a step into the unknown.”

Smith has not booked a return ticket to Australia but said he was hoping to put together a solid six-week block of competition in Europe.