Meet Taiki Takizawa, a 13-year-old from the Gold Coast and one in all Australia’s most promising junior gamers.
Gold Coast, Australia, 22 December 2023 | Rhys de Deugd
At simply 13 years previous, Taiki Takizawa has already established a powerful tennis resumé, proving himself one of many nation’s high juniors to control.
Born in Japan, Takizawa moved to Australia on the age of two – he then picked up a racquet for the primary time two years later and fell in love with the game.
This yr, the Gold Coast teen featured within the Asia-Pacific Elite 14-and-under Trophy on the Australian Open earlier than representing Australia on the ITF World Junior Tennis Competitors in Malaysia.
Takizawa additionally received the chance to take part within the inaugural Tennis Australia Expertise Mix at Brisbane in late September.
In our sequence profiling Australia’s most promising junior gamers, Takizawa shares his favorite tennis experiences to this point …
Are you able to inform us about your begin in tennis?
I attempted varied sports activities once I was younger. I attempted swimming, I attempted golf, I attempted cricket, after which soccer. I appreciated tennis the most effective. So I selected that.
What do you get pleasure from most about tennis?
I like competing with different individuals. It’s fairly a pleasant setting with different individuals round you.
What are a few of the highlights of your tennis journey to this point?
In all probability representing Australia within the Malaysia staff world juniors qualifying. Additionally Orange Bowl on the finish of final yr.
What did you study from these journeys?
Simply understanding the extent round world, like round your age as properly and see what you need to compete towards and work in the direction of.
What are your long run objectives in tennis?
In all probability making an attempt to simply make it on the professional circuit and try to get as excessive of a rating as I can.
Who’ve been the largest inspirations in your profession?
My first coach as a result of he simply set the bottom up for me. He did a very good job at establishing my base in tennis after which from there, I’ve simply gotten higher and higher.
Who’re your favorite tennis gamers to look at?
Ben Shelton as a result of he’s received a giant serve and a giant forehand.
Who’s your your video games are most like out of the professionals?
Ben Shelton.
If you happen to may steal a stroke from some other participant, what wouldn’t it be and why?
In all probability (Novak) Djokovic’s return. As a result of I’ve received the serve and forehand, however the return isn’t wonderful so I’d take that.
What do you love to do once you don’t play tennis?
Hanging out with buddies, catching up with them. As a result of I’m all the time away from them so it’s good to meet up with them.
How do you steadiness college, time with buddies, and tennis?
It relies upon. After I’m away, I’m all the time hanging out with buddies on the weekends. If I’ve time and education, I do go to highschool on the Gold Coast, TSS (The Southport Faculty), and if I’m away, they provide a bit little bit of on-line work typically.
What else do you love to do in your downtime?
I like watching loads of sports activities as properly on TV, most likely basketball and a little bit of rugby.
Is there something that not many individuals would learn about you?
I’ve a very good reminiscence of remembering individuals’s license plates on the vehicles. Like, if I simply see the automotive, like, pull up I do know who it’s. So yeah, that’s fairly cool.
Ebook on-line, play right this moment: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
