A TENNIS match can change in the space of a few points.
A player who has looked comfortable can suddenly find themselves trailing, facing a stronger opponent or having to serve with the pressure of a match hanging in the balance.
It is in those moments that the lessons of training are put to a different test.
For boys and girls from years seven to 12 who competed at the Junior Tennis Tournament at Nadi Sports Club recently, the two-day event will provide an opportunity to experience those situations for themselves.
Organised by Viti Tennis Academy (VTA), the tournament will bring developing players onto the court, with the focus extending beyond who leaves with a trophy.
For Viti Tennis Academy head coach and director Ayesha Ashley, regular competition is an important part of preparing young players for the demands that come with progressing in the sport.
“It helps prepare players for national, West Pacific and international competition.”
VTA runs more than 10 tournaments each year, with between 50 and 80 players coming through its events during the year.
Ashley said the repeated exposure to competition gives players experiences that cannot always be recreated during training.
“Tournaments build match fitness, confidence, discipline and mental strength.”
Unlike training, where a coach can provide immediate direction, tournament tennis requires players to find solutions themselves.
Those moments can reveal another side of development.
That is why regular tournaments form an important part of the pathway for players seeking to progress.
Previous VTA players have gone on to compete at national and regional level, with the academy also supporting players involved in Pacific Oceania junior events.
The junior tournaments also give the academy an opportunity to identify players who could eventually push towards representing Fiji.
