TENNIS – Dembo driven to reach next level

MACCABI Australia’s Outstanding Junior Sportsman of the Year, Perth native Jake Dembo (pictured), is continuing to develop and thrive on the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Junior circuit. Highlights so far this year for Dembo, 15, include representing Australia in a Junior Davis Cup Asia/Oceania tie in May, playing in the clay court ITF European Junior Tour in June and July, and gaining selection in the National Tennis Academy (NTA), which offers access to national coaches and top facilities, in Perth and Brisbane. Last week, Dembo moved up eight spots to 450th in the world boys’ singles rankings, upon reaching the third round of the ITF J200 Oceania tournament in Sydney, where he was seeded 12th. While he lost that contest 4-6 6-3 4-6 to the fifth seed, South Australian Hugh Winter, Dembo told The AJN, “One of my favourite aspects of tennis is striving to rise to the next level, so I’m looking forward to my next challenging match. “Being part of the NTA is an incredible privilege, and training with older and stronger players drives me.” His next tournament will be next month in Malaysia.

CREDIT: AJN