WHILE some of the world's top tennis players stopover in Sydney to prepare for the 2011 Australian Open, one of Warrnambool's top young players will also be showcasing his skills in the harbour city.
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Sam Wilde has been picked to represent Victoria in next year's Foundation Cup Boys' Interstate Challenge.
The youngster caught the eye of Tennis Victoria selectors at the John Fitzgerald Cup in Ballarat earlier this month when he was representing a south-west team.
"People from Tennis Victoria were looking around at players and it went on our results," Sam said.
While Sam thought he played "pretty good", he was surprised when he received a letter last week to notify him that he was one of four boys selected in the Victorian Foundation Cup team.
It is an impressive achievement, particularly because about 40 boys from the under 13 competition were being considered.
The Foundation Cup will be played in January during the Medibank International at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, where the likes of Kim Clijsters and Marcos Baghdatis will be preparing for their Australian Open campaigns.
Sam's coach James Dimauro, from Warrnambool Indoor Tennis Centre, said the youngster has improved his game over the past two years.
"He used to have a big flashy game but now he's a lot more consistent," he said.
"He can grind kids off the court. He's also improved his mental outlook.
"It doesn't matter if he's playing the number one seed now or a nobody, he always steps up. He's got a good attitude."
Dimauro believed Sam had a bright future.
"He could use (his tennis) down the track to travel and see the world, which is what a lot of kids do," he said.
The Foundation Cup runs from January 10 to 13 in a round-robin format, with ties consisting of four singles and two doubles rubbers.
