At just 9 years of age, Laurieton tennis player, Krystal Clarke, has been scouted by Tennis Australia.
Krystal is one of only 4 girls and 4 boys in NSW (16 girls & 16 boys nationally) selected in the under 10 age group to attend an all expenses paid National Development Camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Krystal and her coach Danny Biancardi from Sporties Tuncurry, have been offered places at the inaugural camp for athletes born in the year 2002.
Over four days a comprehensive athlete report and video analysis will be developed on each player in all areas of performance.
“I don’t really know what they’re going to have, they’ll probably have some high performance coaches and conduct the national squad training programs,” Coach Danny Biancardi said.
In an invitation letter sent to Biancardi, Tennis Australia said the camp, “Represents a unique opportunity to share a training camp experience with your athlete and a team of other passionate coaches from around Australia including former Davis Cup player Scott Draper.
“It will be an invaluable professional development experience utilising the AIS resources, Tennis Australia staff, talent development coach mentors and other private coaches,” the letter said.
Krystal and her coach, who’ve been training together since she was seven, will travel to Canberra in May.
“It’s huge, it’s Australia wide just not this state, the development staff travel around and select young players who they think are the best prospects within an age group,” Biancardi said. Krystal added, “She is very excited and looking forward to the camp especially because her brothers have never been to the AIS”.
“Krystal is the top 9 year old within NSW Country after winning the NSW Country Under 10 title one month after turning 9 in 2011. Krystal was also chosen in the under 10 Medibank girls team where she played at Homebush during the Apia International in January. Recently during the North East JDS series Krystal has won an under 10s and on two occasions won the under 12 age group where she played girls almost 3 years older.
Over the Easter break Krystal travelled to Sydney, Newcastle and Forster to play ranking tournaments where her best result was at the “ANZ Forster OJT” where she made it to the U/12 consolation final but unfortunately was washed out. Krystal also won the under 10s. This result will cement her position in the top 4 of NSW and just outside the top10 in Australia for her age group. This will also be a good lead up for the PSSA North Coast tennis event at Canberra where Krystal will be joined by her brother Corey for the week long state school carnival.