South Penrith teenage tennis star Jay Andrijic has revealed what it’s like touring the world on the junior tennis circuit.
Fresh from a 10-week stint in Europe competing at the French Open and Wimbledon, the 17-year-old said his Spanish opponents are among his toughest rivals on and off the court.
“The Spanish players just want to win so much,” Andrijic told the Weekender.
“They just want it so badly, they compete to the very end and don’t give up. It’s pretty much do or die for them.”
Andrijic, who won the Australian Open juniors doubles tournament earlier this year, believes having that sort of mentality can make you play better but it also has its downsides too.
“It definitely makes them a lot more steady and a lot more solid and consistent in what they do… that’s what separates them from us Aussies really,” he said.
“But they’ve got to try and balance the pressure and stress too because that’s obviously a big part of it.”
For some, seeing the determination and desperation in the face of their opponent can perhaps be intimidating but not for Andrijic, who feeds off it for inspiration.
“It actually inspires me to be like that, especially when you watch the Spanish train and play because they always fight hard,” he said.
Andrijic will now spend the next few weeks training at the Woodriff Gardens Tennis Centre before he jets off to Chinese Taipei for a senior men’s tournament.
“I’m slowly drifting out of the juniors’ circuit trying to make it in the big time to get my ranking up,” Andrijic said.
“Wimbledon was my last juniors tournament. I made the decision to not play the US juniors and to start playing men’s tennis.”
Andrijic will hopefully qualify for a coveted spot in the men’s seniors draw at next year’s Australian Open.
