JUNIOR SPORT LIFTOUT INSIDE
“Tennis Victoria had a sports trainer there in case of any injuries and he happened to notice that Lleyton and his son Cruz were up on the back court and he made mention of it, so we all beelined and went and watched them train for a bit.
A THIRD-PLACED finish at the Victorian Under-17 Minter McNamee Cup was made all the more special for a team of Geelong juniors when they met Australian legend Lleyton Hewitt.
Billy Spicer, Ryan Lee, Lauren Peart and Michaela Brennan finished third at the prestigious under-17 tournament while representing Barwon, but the chance to cross paths with one of Australia’s greatest players proved the highlight.
Hewitt, the Australian Davis Cup captain and last Australian to win a men’s sin- gles Grand Slam title, was on one of the back courts, hitting balls with his son Cruz, before the father-son pair posed for a photo.
“That was just a pure coincidence that Lleyton was there,” team manager Belinda Lee said. “Tennis Victoria had a sports trainer there in case of any injuries and he happened to notice that Lleyton and his son Cruz were up on the back court and he made mention of it, so we all beelined and went and watched them train for a bit. It was fantastic.”
It capped off a brilliant weekend in which Lee and Spicer (Grovedale) won six of their eight singles matches while Wandana Heights pair, Peart and Brennan, also helped Barwon finish third among eight regions of Victoria.
“They did really, well,” Ms Lee said.
“My son Ryan Lee, and Billy Spicer, were approached by Cam Govern.
“Through contacts in Geelong and what kids were available and at that standard, Ryan and Billy were both very, very strong boys in the Geelong region.
“They both play Section 1 juniors for Grovedale and Section 1 men’s seniors.
“It was a good mix. The two girls were from Wandana Heights Tennis Club.
“They all played four singles and then they played two mixed.” really