Good hit … Andrew Whittington enjoyed practice sessions with Lleyton Hewitt in the lead-up to the French Open. 64940
By Michael Esposito
THE French Open will be one of the last chances Andrew Whittington has to claim a junior grand slam title.
The Williamstown teenager turns 18 on 11 August, so Wimbledon in June will be the last grand slam he can play as a junior.
Whittington advanced to the third round of the Australian Open junior singles championships in January, and went down in the boys’ doubles final. Since then he has risen to number six in the ITF world junior rankings, making him Australia’s top ranked junior.
His preparation for Roland Garros, which starts on 29 May, has been close to ideal. Whittington defeated home-town hero Jeson Patrombon in the final of the 22nd Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Championships in the Philippines on 27 March, after also beating him in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup final in Malaysia the week before.
The two have developed quite a rivalry since Patrombon knocked Whittington out of the Australian Open in January.
“Coming off the win in Malaysia and then to back it up again the next week in the Philippines I thought was mentally tough for me, but I was proud I got through it,” Whittington said.
“The final I played in the Philippines was like a Davis Cup match as my opponent was from there. There was a crowd of 400-plus people cheering on the local, even if I missed the shot. To get through that match was a great achievement for me.”
Whittington’s preparation for the French Open included a hit-up with Lleyton Hewitt.
“Hitting with Lleyton gave me a lot confidence and I couldn’t have asked for anything better than a couple of great training days with him,” he said.
“Preparation for this European tour couldn’t have been any better. After Easter, I trained in Canberra for two weeks at the AIS which was hard work and physically tough off the court as well.
“My basic goal for the French Open is to go as far as I can in the tournament. Clay isn’t my best surface but the conditions can suit me very well if it is hot and fast. I am just going to go out there with a winning mindset. Sliding out to the ball has been a key for all of us boys and we have worked on it very well and are all feeling confident.”
