VIENNA Kumar is the rising star of Tennis Fiji.
The 15-year-old created history by becoming the first player from the country to win the girl’s under-16 singles and doubles titles during the Margaret Court Cup and Victorian Grass Court Championships in Australia last month.
Her partner in the doubles was Natabua High School mate Ruby Coffin.
For this achievement, Kumar was given the privilege to toss the coin to decide who would first serve in the match between world number three Roger Federer and Nikoloz Basilashvili during the opening round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Kumar is a Year 12 student and is on an International Tennis Federation scholarship based at the regional tennis house in Lautoka.
She was introduced to the sport by her grandmother Emma Watkins-Curtis who at the age of 65 years still enjoys playing social tennis.
“My grandmother used to give me a hit in the early days,” Kumar said.
“My mother Catherine is also a tennis enthusiast and played in junior competitions before. She still trains with me when I’m home for a weekend break or the holidays.”
Kumar had not won many titles prior to going to Australia this year.
So for the trip, she sacrificed her time during the school holidays to practise and attend gym sessions.
“This year I made up my mind that it was going to be different,” Vienna said.
“Before I went to Australia I trained hard during the holidays, both on the tennis courts and at the gym.
“With my mother, we practised on the grass courts at Denarau to get ready for the tournaments which was on grass courts in Australia.
“I took time out to give back to the community by assisting with the junior tennis camp in the first two weeks of December.
“I think it is very important to give back because a lot of people have given to my life whilst I was finding my way with tennis.”
Kumar’s father Shalen is the Airports Fiji Ltd senior retail and tenancy manager while her mum Catherine is field marketing manager Fiji and NZ of Wyndham Vacation Resort Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.
“I have a lot of support from home, from my mum and my dad and my siblings Kiara (18), Edwin (10) and Zeta (8) including my grandmother and extended families,” Kumar said.
“It is important as a child who plays competitive sports, to get all the support from home otherwise it can be quite tough and very draining.
“Also I have a lot of support from the ITF coaching staff who push me each day to become better not only in my tennis, but at school including being mentally strong.
“The great thing about my scholarship is that you have to do well in school and in tennis and if you don’t then you could lose the scholarship.
“My coaching staff are very supportive in ensuring we have that balance. Fiji Tennis is also very supportive as well.
“I was at the bottom of the ladder when I went to Australia. I know I played my part before I left as I continued to train during the holidays and also gave back to the community but I totally believe that God did the rest. I know that it was God that came through for me. These wins are to honour him because of the talent that he has given me to play tennis.”
Kumar’s Monday to Friday routine
* Get up at 5.30am (with our training gear already on) and canvas shoes under the bed ready to go.
* Go for our run or do some form of fitness for an hour.
* Get ready for school and have breakfast. Drop off at school.
* Get picked up after school and head straight to the tennis courts for approximately two hours of tennis training.
* Get back home, dinner and homework.
“When I first started the program early in 2015 I used to go to sleep whilst doing my homework because the training was so exhausting,” Kumar said.
“But I’m okay now. On Saturday morning we have a four-hour tennis session on the courts and we get free time to go into town and meet friends, watch a movie and hang out.
“Sunday is a free day from tennis, however, we have chores to do and also have to catch up with homework and study. I sometimes go home for the weekend, once a month after my Saturday session.”
Objective for 2016
* To win the West Pacific Junior Tournament in May and be in the top two for the Pacific Oceania Junior Tennis Championships in August.
* To get ready to defend the titles that I recently won in Australia.
Tennis achievements
* Winning the U13 Girls at the Fiji Open in 2014. Winning against the number two seed Florence Wasko of American Samoa in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Fiji Open.
* Winning the girl’s U16 singles and doubles titles at the 2016 Margaret Court Cup and the Victorian Junior Grass Court Championships.
Memorable moment
“My best memorable moment in tennis is being selected to toss the coin for Roger Federer’s first round match, against Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Rod Laver Arena,” Kumar said.
“I was very excited to be chosen for this event out of everyone else from Fiji. The walk through the Hall of Fame, leading on to the court was an overwhelming experience only to be met by more excitement when entering the court in front of such a large crowd and being introduced and acknowledged with great applause.
“My ten seconds with Roger was magical. Upon entering the court he immediately greeted me with a handshake and saying, ‘It’s nice to meet you’.
“I immediately replied in disbelief ‘No … It’s nice to meet you’ and we both laughed. Honestly it was the hardest I have ever smiled in my life!
Career Path
Kumar plans to become a pathologist. “It can be very challenging trying to juggle my tennis schedule and studying, however I intend to continue balancing my studies and tennis as I wish to continue my scholarship with ITF after high school,” she said.
“My advice to teenagers playing competitive sports is that it is always challenging at the beginning but learn to balance your school and sports life.
“Sometimes it seems you are the odd one out because you cannot make it to friends’ birthdays and other events but it is all about sacrifice.”
“Hard work pays off and if you remain committed, your sport can open up so many doors just like it has for me.
“Believe in yourself. I love what I do and that is what motivates me to staying committed to what I am doing.”
Player profile
Name: Vienna Kumar
Age: 15
Hobbies: Watching movies, swimming and social media
Favourite food: MacDonald’s
Favourite drink: Apple Juice
Favourite fruit: Pineapple
Good habit: Keeping fit
Bad habit: Eating junk food (sometimes)
Favourite tennis player: Rafael Nadal (I think he is so handsome)
