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Anne Lee learning the ropes in Nadi
The CNMI’s Anne Lee, middle, takes part in drills during the training camp for the 13-and-under Pacific Oceania team in Nadi, Fiji.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Anne Lee has followed up her stint in the 2023 Australian Teams Championships in Australia by taking part in a training camp for 13-and-under netters from Pacific Oceania in Nadi, Fiji.
The training camp is conducted by coaching expert Gilles de Gouy and was made possible by the International Tennis Federation’s Grand Slam Player Development Programme in collaboration with the Oceania Tennis Federation.
“I have been learning some approach shots with my backhand and forearms and also learned the proper way to serve,” said Lee in a social media message to the Saipan Tribune.
So far, the 12-year-old student from Saipan International School has been enjoying her training in Fiji.
“It is a bit hot, but it is pretty good. I’ve been staying at someone’s house for a bit while, but I am going to move to the facility where Team CNMI will be staying after a few days,” she said.
Team CNMI will be flying into Fiji at week’s end to compete in the 2023 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships.
Lee is part of the 11U/13U Pacific Oceania Team that competed in the 2023 Australian Junior Championship in Gold Coast, Australia recently.
The team arrived in Fiji last June 28 for the aforementioned camp that bridges the gap between the Australia tournament and the start of the POJC.
Vanuatu’s Lorraine Banimataku and Fiji’s Sachin Reddy served as assistant coaches to de Gouy.
The team of nine players began the camp with a two-session training program at the Nadi Sports and Social Club and the program is set to run until July 8.
As for the 2023 Australian Junior Championship, Lee concluded her stint on a sour note as she and Colita Hakena of Papua New Guinea lost to Australia’s Karin Hiramatsu and Jovana Novakovic, 6-2. 6-0, last June 26. Pacific Oceania thus finished seventh in the age group.
Lee’s trip to Australia to compete in the 2023 Australian Junior Championship and subsequent invite to the Nadi training camp was made through funding from the Grand Slam Player Development Programme.
