The cities of Gosnells and Canning are home to some of Western Australia’s best and brightest young tennis players.
Earlier this month, Jaun Yum (from Thornlie), Rishi Makesar (Riverton), and Karin Hiramatsu (Willetton) took part in the 2021 Rafa Nadal Tour event at the State Tennis Centre in Burswood.
More than 90 athletes from all over the state competed in the event’s 12/Under and 14/Under Junior Gold Tournament.
Makesar and Amy Findlay (Duncraig) took out the 12/Under Boys and 12/U Girls championship titles, respectively.
Yum and Hiramatsu were rewarded for their amazing efforts and sportsmanship throughout the four-day event.
They and two others – Benjamin Galvao (Joondalup) and Caleb Sewell (Geraldton) – each received a Rafa Nadal Tour: Trophy of Values Award.
Yum, Makesar, Hiramatsu, and five others were all picked to compete in the Rafa Nadal Masters event in Melbourne, next year.
Hiramatsu’s mother, Akihisa Hiramatsu, said the family was extremely proud of Karin for her many accomplishments.
“Karin enjoys tennis socially because she can hang out with mates off-court and between tennis sessions,” she said.
“She also likes tennis professionally too, because she likes how she can ‘create her own game’, in a way no one else can.
“Karin was pretty impressed by how she played recently…she thanked all of the players, particularly those in the semi-final and third-place play-off, for giving her a good fight.
“She is looking forward to playing against different people in Melbourne, making some new friends, and, most of all, having fun.”
