Roxburgh Park’s Saalim Naser is glad he decided to focus more seriously on his tennis.
The 18-year-old, who was born with spina bifida, is one of the rising stars of Australian wheelchair tennis.
Earlier this month was named joint Junior Athlete of the Year along with Roisin Gilheany at the Tennis Victoria awards.
Naser said it was special to win the award.
“I’m truly honoured to win that award, with all the hard work from my team the whole year has paid off,” he said.
“I was a bit shocked to be honest, this is a big award. I was shocked to be a finalist and then shocked to win it.
“I’m really happy to win the award.”
Naser first learnt about wheelchair tennis when he was in hospital when he was 10, when Australian wheelchair tennis coach Greg Crump approached him about having a hit.
After that hit, Crump invited him to join the The National Tennis Centre which is based at Melbourne Park and the rest is history.
“It started out socially as a hobby, but I’m glad I started to take it more seriously,” he said.
“I’m very grateful to train at that facility.”
This year was a big year for Naser as he hit the road.
He was part of the Australian team that in May lifted the ITF World Team Cup in Portugal. Naser then became the first Australian to compete at a junior grand slam, travelling to New York to compete in the inaugural junior wheelchair tennis tournament at the US Open.
Across three days, 16 players aged between 14 and 18 years took part in matches.
Naser said it had been a really good experience.
“The team event was hard at first as I was travelling away from my family, but I got used to it,” he said.
“To win that was really special. The US Open was really good. My family was there and it was a good tournament.”
Naser is currently ranked number seven in the world for in the junior rankings and 101 in the singles rankings.
Naser’s rise up the ranks comes as wheelchair tennis has become bigger on the world stage.
The likes of Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson have been a big part of that. Naser calls both grand slam winners as friends.
“Heath is a great role model for me, especially training with him more this year,” he said.
“He’s one of the main reasons I’m even more motivated to train hard and make it.”
Saalim is now focused on winning the national championships and qualifying for the Australian Open.
He’s also hoping to compete in the wheelchair tennis events at Hume Tennis and Community Centre, which isn’t far from home.
Having had a taste of playing tennis on the international stage, Naser is keen for more.
“I’ll look to travel more next year,” he said.
“Long term I want to travel and work and play at the big events.”
