Little Lleyton comes out as Sach targets Cup
GOLD Coast teen Tai Sach is channelling his inner Lleyton Hewitt as he attempts to guide Australia to Junior Davis Cup glory in Budapest this week.
Sach, 16, is part of a threestrong under-16 team that will take on 15 other countries at the Junior Davis Cup finals from yesterday until September 30, with the Varsity Lakes resident entering the tournament on the back of some strong form at this month’s Ockel Tournament Leeuwenbergh Championships in the Netherlands.
Competing at the ITF Grade 3 event as part of a month-long stint in Europe, Sach reached the semis of the singles and the final of the doubles with partner Alex Bulte.
He said the challenge now was to replicate the Australian tenacity made famous by Hewitt at senior Davis Cup level throughout his 18-year career.
“(The) aim for the finals is to fight every point, not give up and show our Australian spirit. It’s a dream to represent Australia and I’m looking forward to giving my all,” Sach said. “The tournaments have been really tough.
“Travelling has been really cool, not many people get to represent Australia and be on tour for their 16th birthday.”
Sach is joined in Hungary by Runaway Bay’s Olivia Gadecki, who is on the Australian team for the Junior Fed Cup finals that will run in conjunction with the boys’ event.
The 16-year-old won the doubles with Annerly Poulos at the Ockel Tournament Leeuwenbergh Championships and 4th Torneo Internazionale Junior Citta’ Di Palermo this month, and also made the singles final at the latter.