Jack Van Slyke hits the court regularly to prepare for the Orange Bowl in Miami later this month.
Carleton’s Tennis Centre has been buzzing lately. Its top junior players have been training intensely to prepare to represent Canada at the world’s largest international youth sports festival later this month.
Nine athletes, all under the age of 16, are working vigorously to prepare for the Orange Bowl, a tournament held annually in Coral Gables, Florida. The tournament is known to breed stardom for the professional circut.
Founded in 1948, the tournament allows 128 players from each age group to participate.
Nine Ottawa area players are set to compete this year.
“We’re running fitness everyday,” says Jorge Vila, a coach at the Carleton Tennis Centre.
“We’re making sure the athletes are ready for the change in weather and that their systems are in tuned," he says. "
"It’s important to keep them hydrated, making sure all their technical and playing skills are in top shape,” says Vila.
The athletes, who all reside in the Ottawa area, are playing anywhere between 25 and 35 hours of tennis per week, taking advantage of personal training sessions and group development.
Working with the Independent Learning Centre, the majority of the kids are home schooled – freeing up more time for tennis and international events such as the Orange Bowl.
The athletes, along with their families and coaches, are leaving at the end of November. This gives them only a few more weeks to prepare for the pressure and competition of international spotlight.
“The Orange Bowl is the biggest youth tournament in the world,” says Galin Nizortchev, former Canadian junior champion and youth developer at the Carleton Tennis Club.
“It’s the best juniors in the world who participate, and soon after turn pro.”
These youngsters are following in the footsteps of many international tennis greats, including Monica Seles and Andre Agassi, who both played in the tournament during their youth and later went on to be ranked number one in the world.
“I hope that my hard work is going to lead me to a professional career in tennis,” says 12-year-old Leonardo de Conciliis, one of Ottawa’s top youth tennis players.
“But for now I’m going to try and qualify for the Orange Bowl.”
Showcasing the best youth tennis in the world, the Orange Bowl is not only breeding grounds for tennis stardom, but is also a pool for scouts to draw from.
“It’s a main event to grab players,” says Vila. “Scouts from schools and academies will be there, ready to give out potential scholarships and sponsors.”
Ottawa has a highly competitive tennis circuit, says Vila, who believes his talented young athletes will be able to catch the eye of scouts while contending on an international front.
However, the athletes have no room for error.
The “up-and-comer” must remain undefeated and win four qualifying rounds to advance to the main draw. Once on the main stage, the pressure increases as the athletes and their coaches compete for international rankings and recognition at the highest level.
“We’ve been working really hard, and it’s great to have a chance to hit against some of the world’s top players,” says de Conciliis. “It’s going to be a great experience, I’m really excited.”