TENNIS
TRARALGON JR INTERNATIONAL
By LIAM DURKIN
THE flags from across the globe are up, there are people exiting local hotels with tennis bags in hand, and the lines at various cafes across town are out the door.
Some quick-thinking locals also helped repair the drinks fridge before the big day.
That can only mean one thing – the Traralgon Junior International is back.
Tennis’ future stars have descended on little old Traralgon, ready to battle it out for the titles, and to take home a famous Akubra.
Over the next week, spectators will witness players that may well go on to win Grand Slams, and become household names across the globe.
To those unaware, the Traralgon Junior International is, in the words of Ron Burgundy, “kind of a big deal”.
Players the calibre of Nick Kyrgios, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and even Roger Federer have played at the tournament. Federer won the boys singles title in 1998. Who knows, perhaps he even still has his Akubra?
Current women’s world No 2 Iga Swiatek (Poland) won at Traralgon in 2017, while Mirra Andreeva (No 9) made the 2023 singles and doubles final, and went on to defeat current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open.
Sabalenka famously sports a Tiger tattoo to symbolise strength – the same kind that will be demonstrated in spades across the Traralgon tournament from January 14 to 22.
They don’t just let anybody play at Traralgon either.
In the words of former world men’s No 6, Gilles Simon: “I didn’t play in Traralgon as a junior, I wasn’t good enough”, he told the Express.
So you see, the Traralgon Junior International is known the world over.
And it will stay in Traralgon for the next five years, after Latrobe City reaffirmed its commitment to hosting.
The news was welcomed by Francis Soyer, Head of Competitive Play and Professional Events at governing body, Tennis Australia.
“We are grateful to be able to host this inspiring annual event for another five-year period,” he said.
“By the end of the next agreement, we will be close to a 40-year association with the event in Traralgon and there are not many tournaments on the World Tennis Junior Tour calendar that can promote that length of commitment in supporting the future generation of international tennis stars.”
Traralgon Tennis Association President, Cameron Herbert thanked Tennis Australia and Latrobe City for its patronage.
“Securing the event for a further five years helps propel our exciting plans for the redevelopment of our clubhouse and player facilities, solidifying the ongoing legacy of this wonderful world class event in Traralgon,” he said.
Cultures are set to collide in Traralgon, and spectators could see some wholesome content, especially if players from different countries compete in doubles.
A lot of the time, players competing in doubles don’t even speak the same language, but through tennis, have an instant tool for communication.
(You do always feel guilty talking to international tennis players, most of whom have English as their second language, when you have only ever bothered to learn one yourself).
Regardless, while not everyone might be speaking the same language in a verbal sense at the Traralgon Junior International, a racquet and a ball is all that is needed to bring any number of people together.
While sport is often just seen as a means of separating winners from losers, its true power surely comes from its ability to unite.
(Note: As an international event, the tournament must navigate international politics. Therefore, flags from Russia and Belarus are not permitted to be displayed. Players from these countries compete without a flag next to their name or any reference to their country).
