Natasha Lystrup Camer-Pesci hopes to play on the grass courts of Wimbledon when she is older.
Camera IconNatasha Lystrup Camer-Pesci hopes to play on the grass courts of Wimbledon when she is older. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Willetton SHS student serving it up on path to tennis career

Headshot of Josh Zimmerman
Josh ZimmermanMelville Gazette

IF you think Natasha Lystrup Camer-Pesci’s surname is difficult, try returning her serve.

Since winning her first tennis tournament at the age of seven, Natasha has blazed a trail across courts all over WA and Australia.

She has represented her state for three years and last December finished 11th at the National Championships in Melbourne, losing only to the eventual winner of the tournament and number one seed 6-3 6-4.

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At the end of May, Natasha finished runner-up in the qualification consolation final for the WA Open – an adults tournament – despite the fact she is only 14.

“I’ve been playing tennis for about seven years now,” she said.

“I saw my older brothers playing and at the time I was in dance but didn’t really enjoy it and thought that tennis looked like a lot more fun.”

A gifted striker of the ball, Natasha is now concentrating on improving her conditioning and match tactics with the help of coach Chris Moore.

“Natasha can hit the ball as well as Serena Williams but we have to get her to the same level in terms of movement, that is the key step to making it onto the pro circuit,” Moore said.

“At the elite level success is more than half mental and comes down to choosing to do the right things at the right moments and taking your chances.

“Right now Tash’s results are speaking for themselves; she is pushing a lot of players that are much older than in the junior category and she is even starting to beat well-regarded senior players on the Perth and Australian circuit.”

A gifted and talented student at Willetton Senior High School, Natasha splits her time between the tennis court and the classroom and her next major tournament is at the end of the month when she flies to Queensland for the Rod Laver Lead In.

“I really want to make it onto the pro circuit and travel around to play all the big tournaments,” Natasha said.

Natasha Lystrup Camer-Pesci

AGE: 14

SPORT: Tennis

CATEGORY: Junior Sports Star Individual

ACCOLADES: Winner U14 Perth Open Gold, South Perth Junior Open, Busselton Junior Open, among others. 11th place finish at 2016 Nationals.

To nominate, visit www.localsportsstars.com.au

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