2009 Australian Open – Academy students flourishing down under
NBTA student Yuki Bhambri reached the quarterfinals of the Junior Australian Open
Three players who train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (NBTA) and a fourth who spent time here during the Pro Training Camp in November and December have all reached the quarterfinals of the Junior Australian Open.
On the Boys side, top-seed, Yuki Bhambri of India, and second-seed, Julen Uriguen of Guatalema, both advanced to the quarters with straight set victories. Bhambri, who won the prestigious Junior International Orange Bowl Tournament in Miami back in December, is currently the world’s second-ranked junior and has been training at the NBTA for a couple of years. Uriguen recently moved to the Academy and is the 10th ranked junior in the world. Both boys work with Nick and David “Red” Ayme in the Tour Prep Program with other top players such as Ryan and Christian Harrison, Gastao Elias, Filip Krajinovic, and Ricardas Berankis just to name a few.
On the Girls side, full-time Academy student Heather Watson, of Great Britain, reached the quarters by winning in three sets. Watson has been training at the Academy for five years and works with Nick and coach Jose Lambert (who traveled with Monica Seles, Jim Courier, Bjorn Borg, etc). Joining Watson in the quarters is IMG client Ana Bogdan of Romania. Bogdan spent time at the Academy during the Pro Training Camp in late 2008, and will face Kristina Mladenovic of France in the next round.
“We are thrilled to have four players who have trained at the NBTA in the quarterfinals,” said Nick. “All of them worked extremely hard during the off-season to prepare for just this moment, and we wish them nothing but the best in the next round. I want to thank Jose (Lambert), Red (Ayme), and the entire NBTA staff for dedicating themselves to the development of these players. It’s teamwork like this that makes the Academy #1 in the world.”
