Mia Repac: A rising star of Australian tennis | 4 November, 2022 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

After two injury-interrupted years, Mia Repac is starting to make her mark in skilled tennis.

The 18-year-old from New South Wales has made three ITF quarterfinals and received 15 of her 25 matches since July. This has helped Repac achieve her first WTA rating factors.

In our collection profiling Tennis Australia’s Nationwide Tennis Academy athletes, Repac displays on her greatest influences and the essential classes she has realized thus far in her younger profession …

Are you able to inform us about your begin in tennis?

I used to be six once I began taking part in and it was due to my dad. He used to play along with his pals in our hometown of Wollongong. I used to go and watch and cry on the umpire chair asking to play, so he determined to place me into Saturday morning squads only for enjoyable and I’ve superior from there.

What do you take pleasure in about tennis?

I simply love competing and dealing onerous. It’s actually enjoyable. I like assembly lots of people and attending to journey to completely different locations world wide too.

How a lot journey have you ever achieved thus far in your profession?

I’ve been quite a bit to Asia, quite a bit round Australia, all of the completely different states. I’ve been to Europe a couple of instances and America.

Do you’ve got a favorite place you’ve travelled?

I like Europe, particularly in summer time. I like the climate, the folks there and the meals.

What are your tennis desires?

My tennis dream is to get to the highest 10 and play in any respect the Grand Slams.

Who’ve been the most important influences thus far in your profession?

In all probability my dad and mom, particularly my dad. He’s at all times been a giant a part of my tennis. He’s at all times been there for me, pushed me by means of onerous instances and he’s actually had a big effect.

Have you ever modelled your sport on anybody particularly?

I like Simona Halep, so I’ve at all times tried to play like her. She’s clearly very aggressive too, loves her backhand. I watch a number of her matches to see her techniques and the way I can incorporate these into my sport.

Who’re your different favorite tennis gamers to observe?

Victoria Azarenka is at all times somebody I’ve admired from a younger age. I’ve at all times liked the best way she performs and fights on the courtroom and the way she’s aggressive. That’s how I wish to play too.

Are there any Australian gamers which have impressed you?

I’ve at all times appreciated watching Sam Stosur and Ash Barty, they’re each wonderful. I like Ash’s variation and the way she dominated together with her slice and her all-round sport.

Have you ever spent any time with Ash when she was coaching in Brisbane?

I’ve seen her right here a couple of instances. I used to be meant to hit together with her as soon as, however sadly acquired injured, so I wasn’t in a position to.

How did you are feeling about having the prospect to hit with a world No.1?

I used to be fairly nervous. Even simply strolling round and seeing her on this atmosphere is absolutely cool.

What has been the proudest on-court second thus far in your profession?

In all probability taking part in my first Grand Slam, which was juniors on the Australian Open in 2020. That was a extremely nice expertise. Having all my household and pals with the ability to watch me in Melbourne was actually cool.

Mia Repac in motion at Australian Open 2020. Image: Getty Photos

What had been your feelings like contesting your first Grand Slam?

They really put me on a present courtroom for my first match, so I used to be very nervous. I had a little bit of a crowd too. It was form of my first huge crowd, so I had a number of feelings. But it surely was good that I used to be in a position to overcome them and play good tennis.

What had been the most important classes you took from that have?

With the ability to keep centered on the courtroom, that was a giant one. I needed to attempt to not get too distracted and never suppose an excessive amount of about who’s watching or who’s round.

Are you continue to learning, in addition to competing?

I’m in my first yr of college, learning a Bachelor of Enterprise. It’s 100 per cent on-line, so that permits me nonetheless to coach full-time and do my uni in my spare time. I’m having fun with it, it offers me a chance to change off from tennis and deal with one thing else.

What recommendation would you give to different younger folks eager to pursue a tennis profession?

I at all times like utilizing Cristiano Ronaldo’s quote, ‘expertise with out working onerous is nothing’. That’s positively essential in tennis. You’ve started working onerous and push by means of, even if you happen to do have the expertise.

Does coaching on the Nationwide Tennis Academy encourage you to work tougher?

100 per cent. It’s actually inspiring to look as much as the older gamers and need to be like them, then you’ve got the opposite women your age and youthful pushing you to at all times need to do extra.

What’s it like dwelling on this atmosphere?

It’s been good. It may be tough at instances too simply because it’s a number of tennis. However I’ve loved dwelling with different women who’re comparable ages and I’ve made a number of new friendships.

Are you able to describe your taking part in fashion in a single sentence?

I wish to play very aggressive – that’s positively my sport, taking the ball early, shortening the factors quite a bit.

What’s your greatest power as a participant?

I’d say positively my backhand. A backhand down the road is a shot I at all times attempt to search for.

In case you might steal any stroke from one other participant, what wouldn’t it be and why?

I’d say most likely Nick Kyrgios’ serve, he’s so relaxed and may hit them so onerous and quick.

Do you comply with any pre-match superstitions?

I have a tendency to love consuming the identical meal throughout a match, usually one thing like steak with mash and veggies so I’m getting sufficient protein and carbs earlier than a match.

Inform us your favourites within the following classes:

Meals: That’s a tricky query. I actually like conventional Serbian meals. My grandma cooks a dish known as sarma, which has cabbage, meat and rice, which I like.

Taking part in floor: I’m positively a hard-court participant, simply because I grew up primarily taking part in on onerous and it’s what I’m most snug on. I like the best way the ball sits, and also you don’t have to slip as a lot.

Social media platform: In all probability Instagram. It’s fairly fascinating with the ability to have a look at folks’s tales and share posts.

Televison collection: In all probability Stranger Issues on Netflix.

Musician: Drake.

Who can be your dream doubles associate?

In all probability Martina Hingis. She had such an amazing profession, in singles and doubles. I appreciated her all-round sport, her volleying, her variation, and I believe she can be wonderful to play with.

Mia Repac coaching on the Nationwide Tennis Academy in Brisbane. Image: Tennis Australia

What’s your earliest Australian Open reminiscence?

I most likely began watching once I was like eight or 9. I keep in mind going to Melbourne for my first AO and I liked it. I used to be attempting to get my ball signed by everybody.

Do you keep in mind the primary autograph you bought?

It may need been Novak Djokovic, we at all times used to observe him play at Rod Laver Enviornment. I’d at all times be ready for the gamers after a match attempting to get a signature.

How would your family and friends describe you?

That’s a tough query. I believe they’d say that I’m very onerous working. I wish to hold every thing in my management and I’m fairly enjoyable to be round.

Do you’ve got any siblings who play tennis?

I’ve one youthful sister, however she’s the exact opposite of me. She doesn’t play in any respect.

What are your tennis targets?

I’m simply getting back from a extremely huge harm, so my short-term purpose is to get my rating up. I’d actually wish to play the Australian Open subsequent yr.

What harm have you ever been coping with?

I had again issues, which put me out for a really very long time. So, I’m simply grateful to be again out on courtroom.

Have been there any silver linings to this expertise?

Undoubtedly. I’m form of grateful as a result of it allowed me to deal with finishing yr 12 final yr. I learnt to be affected person and never get too upset. I attempted to remain actually hopeful and at all times suppose it’s going to get higher.

Have been you nervous to return to competitors?

It was very nerve-wracking. I had a number of doubts, particularly in my first matches again. I didn’t know what to anticipate, however it was simply actually good to be again on the market.

What are the advantages of being within the Nationwide Tennis Academy?

I like all of the help we get, it’s unreal. Having the physios, coaches and private trainers in a single spot is absolutely handy. It’s an incredible atmosphere.

Was it a tough resolution so that you can transfer to Brisbane from Sydney?

It was a giant resolution, however I at all times knew Sydney was solely an hour-and-a-half flight away, so I’m not too removed from residence.

You’ve been working with David Taylor, who has beforehand coached Alicia Molik, Sam Stosur and Ajla Tomljanovic. How has he helped your sport?

He’s acquired a lot expertise and may be very educated, so I’m actually grateful to have him as a coach. He has actually already helped me a lot with my sport. He’s recognized all my weaknesses, and we’ve been working onerous and already I’m feeling so a lot better on the courtroom.