Marko Mrdak.
Camera IconMarko Mrdak. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

Rising tennis star eyes national success

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BAYSWATER Tennis Club and state junior Marko Mrdak is aiming to reach national-level semi-finals and finals in 2020.

The Morley resident (13) plays in the boys’ state league pennants for Bayswater and trains with coach John Thorpe at Dalkeith Tennis Club and the State Tennis Centre in Burswood.

Mrdak recently reached the semi-finals and won the values trophy at the Perth Bronze Junior Tennis event as part of the national Rafa Nadal Tour.

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He will be flying off to Melbourne in January to compete at the Rafa Nadal Masters event.

The Applecross Senior High School student, who had been playing tennis for seven years, said it was great to win the values trophy.

“It was great how people saw how hard I worked to try demonstrate the values,” he said.

Mrdak said he was looking forward to playing at the masters event and working towards his goal of becoming a national finalist or semi-finalist at different tournaments next year.

Marko Mrdak. Kristie Lim
Camera IconMarko Mrdak. Kristie Lim Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

He said he looked up to Nadal and wanted to pursue a tennis career like him.

Thorpe, a MasterStroke Tennis coach, said Mrdak had always shown respect to coaches, officials and players he trained with.

“Marko is a player that makes our training environment better,” he said.

“He sets an example to others on the effort and commitment required to succeed.

“It’s a standard that doesn’t go unnoticed.”

He said two years ago, Mrdak reconstructed some of the technical components of his game to establish himself as one of the better junior players in Australia.

“He really does deserve the success he has enjoyed over the last 12 months,” he said.

Mrdak will be competing for a chance to join a two-week training program at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain.

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