Frontrunner plays it cool
Former junior US Open junior champion Omar Jasika prefers to block out the pressure of being the men’s top seed in this week’s Cairns Tennis International. The aggressive left-hander from Victoria (above) will be looking at going one better after finishing runner up in the 2014 tournament and is set to be a clear frontrunner to take this year’s title.
FORMER junior US Open champion Omar Jasika prefers to block out the pressure of being the men’s top seed in this week’s Cairns Tennis International.
The aggressive left-hander from Victoria will be looking at going one better after finishing runner up in the 2014 tournament and is set to be a clear frontrunner to take this year’s title.
Jasika, just 20 years of age, was sent packing by Aussie wildcard Scott Puodziunas 6-1, 6-2 at Toowoomba in the Round of 32 last week and is keen to bounce back in the Far North this week.
“There is a little bit of pressure being the No.1 seed,” Jasika said.
“I try not to think about it too much but it really affects you for sure. There is a lot of good players coming up to Cairns this year.”
Jasika made his grand slam debut on home soil in 2016, reaching the second round and is looking to hopefully do the same in 2018.
“I have been playing pretty well lately, I had a pretty good start to the year,” he said.
“I have come up through Brisbane and Toowoomba.
“I lost early rounds in Toowoomba after a few tough matches.
“I will be looking at the qualifying rounds for the Australian Open next year.”
In the women’s draw, Asia Muhammad will be challenged by top female talent including defending champion and world No.265 Olivia Rogowska and Queensland girl Kim Birrell, who won the Brisbane QTC International last week and was a finalist at the Penrith International Pro Tour event the week prior.
“It’s an exceptionally strong field this year, the strongest the tournament has seen,” tournament director Travis Dragojlo said.
“The local Cairns community is spoiled for choice with so many world-class athletes in the city this week.”
The official draw of the Cairns Tennis International took place yesterday afternoon at The Cairns International Tennis Centre.
The ITF event will see more than 100 professional tennis players from around Australia and the world compete for $US50,000 in prizemoney.