ITF

30 ITFWORLD SPRING 2016 THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN J UN I O R SL A M SP O T L I GH T J U N I O R SL A M S P O T L I G H T J UN I O R SL A M S P O T L I GH T JUNIOR GRAND SLAMS By Stuart Fraser. I t was a January to remember for 17-year-old Australian Oliver Anderson. At the start of the month in his hometown tournament, the Brisbane International, Anderson qualified for his first ATP World Tour event by picking up two top-150 victories against Americans Tim Smyczek and Dennis Novikov. And then four weeks later on January 30, Anderson took to the court of Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and beat Uzbekistan's Jurabeck Karimov 62 16 61 to win the Australian Open boys' singles, his first junior Grand Slam title. It was just reward for the effort Anderson put in to come back from a back stress fracture in 2014, which forced him out of the sport for ten months. To suffer such a serious injury during his formative years had some people fearing he might struggle to live up to his early promise. "I haven't won too many tournaments, so this is probably the best so far," said Anderson. "I had a pretty average 2014, so being able to bounce back and win a big tournament like this, it's pretty rewarding I guess for the hard work I put in." This was actually the first junior tournament Anderson — who is coached by Wayne Arthurs and Heath Denman — had played for two years, preferring instead to play professional tournaments when he returned after his injury. "I guess in juniors it's a lot different," said Anderson. "But, sure, I get a little bit of confidence out of this. I have always had a pretty good drive to be the best I can possibly be, but I guess this adds to that." Anderson is the fifth Australian to win the boys' singles at his home Grand Slam in the last ten years, joining Nick Kyrgios (2013), Luke Saville (2012), Bernard Tomic (2008) and Brydan Klein (2007). "It's good seeing my name up against those guys," said Anderson. "I know all them. They've all had pretty good careers so far. Hopefully I can follow in their footsteps." anderson enjoys home win

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