NATABUA High School student Vienna Kumar continues to impress on the international tennis scene after reaching the final of the girls under-16 division during the Pacific Oceania Junior Championship (POJC) during the weekend.
For her achievement Kumar has secured a spot at the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) future stars invitational tournament which will be played in Singapore in October. The 15-year-old created history by becoming the first player from Fiji to win the girl’s U16 singles and doubles titles during the Margaret Court Cup and Victorian Grass Court Championships in Australia earlier this year.
For the victories, Kumar was given the privilege to toss the coin to decide who would first serve in the match between world No.3 Roger Federer and Nikoloz Basilashvili during the opening round of the Australian Open in Melbourne. The Year 12 student is on an International Tennis Federation scholarship based at the regional tennis house in Lautoka.
Tennis Fiji president Richard Breen said the national players did well at the POJC.
“We finished fourth overall which is positive,” Breen said.
“Hopefully we can achieve the Number One status next year and we are working towards that. One of the highlights is Vienna qualifying for the Women’s Tennis Association future stars tournament in Singapore. The top ten women play in that tournament and on the courts that are outside of the main tournament is where the future stars play. If they qualify for the finals, they play at the tournament where the main event is held. It is a huge event for Vienna to participate in. She will have a training program in place.”
