Having spent a fair amount of 2019 on the mainland, Launceston's Oliver Hadley is thrilled to be competing at home.
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After taking out both the under-14 and 16 events at the State Age in Hobart, the 14 year-old competed in the 14s and the Australian Money Tournament event at the Tasmanian Easter Championships.
Stepping up to the open division for the event, Hadley said it was a rewarding experience following his 6-4 6-1 loss to fellow Tasmanian Casey Ambler.
"Playing in the open gets me used to having the ball come harder, faster and with different spin," Hadley said.
"People don't hit the shots that they do in the junior events because they physically can't, they haven't got the strength to hit it that way."
Returning from his maiden individual nationals event earlier this month, the under-14s clay court event in the Australian Capital Territory, Hadley achieved two wins from his seven games at the Canberra tennis centre.
"Coming up against the best players for my age in Australia, it was good to get a win. I didn't get many but it was a good experience."
The highest ranked junior for his age in Tasmania, Hadley is coached by Jason Fletcher and is within the top 50 in Australia for players born in 2004. He's also currently ranked 645th for open competition, a figure which could skyrocket following the strong results of the past few weeks.
While most up-and-coming juniors look towards Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal as their idols, Hadley acknowledges young Canadian top-20 player Denis Shapovalov and Australian live-wire Alexei Popyrin as his, due to to the similar play style and on-court attitude.
The Scotch Oakburn College student has represented Tasmania in the Foundation Cup event in the past and will do the same at the under-18 Pizzey Cup in South Australia during May.
In addition to his tennis talents, Hadley is also a keen cricketer, having represented Scotch Oakburn and Riverside Cricket Club in a losing third grade finals effort for the Blues.