Charlottes Smashing Success 7 May 2014

 

 

 

 

Glengowrie’s Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz, 9, who is ranked Australia’s number one in her age group, will test her skills at a tournament in Croatia in June. CHARLOTTE KempenaersPocz is nine but she hits a tennis ball with the power of a player aged 14 and wears a size 7.5 women’s shoe.

The Glengowrie tennis ace has held on to the number one spot in the country’s under-10s bracket since last year, and hopes her six-day per week training schedule will cement her ranking.

 

“My specialty on the court is my forehand and serving, and I am strong,” Charlotte, who plays for Millswood Tennis Club, says.

“I like Serena Williams because she always goes for her shots wherever she can, and she’s really aggressive.”

Not only is Charlotte number one in her age group, but she is winning under-12s tournaments as well.

Charlotte has played tournaments in Darwin and Alice Springs, Lismore, NSW, and is getting ready for a tennis camp at the Gold Coast from June 2-6.

A tournament in Croatia at the end of June will really test Charlotte’s skill, when she will go up against the best 10-year-olds in the world on a clay surface.

Her mother Els Kempenaers-Pocz says it will be a challenge. “She will have coaching for a week ahead of the tournament to get used to it – clay is a totally different game,” Mrs Kempenaers-Pocz says.

“No Aussie has ever gone past the first round, so that will be the first test.”