Oli Pizzey Stratford is more than a teenage wheelchair tennis prospect. He is writing the rule book on life.
Pizzey Stratford was given a grave diagnosis after he was born with spinal injuries. His family was told to expect the worse – if he survived he was going to need assistance to breathe and swallow.
Finn Broadbent, Matt Leggett and Oli Pizzey Stratford at the AIS.
Most children don't survive the injury Pizzey Stratford has, but he defied the odds after countless surgeries and now the 15-year-old has his sights set on the Paralympic Games.
He and nine other of Australia's best junior wheelchair tennis players have descended on the AIS for a three-day training camp in the lead up to the Canberra Wheelchair Tennis Open beginning on Friday.
Tennis Australia has doubled its numbers at the Canberra event following last year's tournament with international ranking points up for grabs.
"I took up tennis about four years ago and fell in love with it immediately, it was just love at first sight," Pizzey Stratford said.
"My first encounter was actually at Rod Laver Arena for a promotional event, which was really awesome. From then on in, I just loved it and started playing more and more.
"There’s just something about it, I don’t get stressed about it. It comes free to me, and I love the teammates that I’m playing with, especially in doubles. There’s a great group of people around me.
"I’m hoping for glory [this weekend], but if not that’s totally fine. I’m just trying to play my best, and I know if I play my best then I will do pretty well."
Pizzey Stratford has plenty of familiar faces around at the AIS camp, including his doubles partner from their successful Brisbane International Open campaign in Finn Broadbent.
Broadbent is the highest ranked player at the camp with the 17-year-old quickly emerging as one of the world's most promising juniors after switching basketball for tennis.
A host of wheelchair tennis players have been training at the AIS for the Canberra Wheelchair Tennis Open.
The world No.11 in the ITF junior wheelchair rankings, Broadbent represented Australia at this year’s World Team Cup in the Netherlands and he is already gearing up for the 2019 edition in Israel.
While Broadbent is the hot favourite to clinch the title, having his close mate around makes the ride a whole lot more enjoyable.
"Especially around the dinner table, at breakfast and around the rooms, it’s awesome," Broadbent said.
"There’s something about him, every time we go on court he is always encouraging, calms me down when something turns to bad, say a double fault.
Finn Broadbent in action.
"I played basketball for a year and a half and I liked it, but it wasn’t a sport that was going to take me far. With the pathway of tennis, the past three years has been really encouraging and enjoyable."
- Click or touch here to vote for your favourite Canberra sportsperson of the year and give your school the chance to win, or visit www.cbrsportawards.com.au
Source: Read Full Article