PROMISING Bulli tennis player Blake Mott had the self-described best week of his life, attending a training session with Lleyton Hewitt and warming up Sam Stoser for her big clash at the Australian Open in Melbourne this year.
Stoser’s coach Dave Taylor asked Mott if he would lend a hand during Stoser’s warm-up before her match with Serena Williams.
Mott was attending the Australian Open as part of the 2010 National Performance Academy Camp.
He has also secured a full-time scholarship with the AIS in Sydney under full-time coach and former tour player Sandon Stolle.
Besides sharing time with Australia’s top male and female singles players, Mott had another highlight. Former US Open champion Pat Rafter also asked to have a hit with him at Australia’s grand slam.
While he was heading back to Sydney by car the Bulli teenager received the surprise call.
“I got a call to get back to the Open – Pat Rafter would like to hit with me at 3pm that day”. His dad Terry doing a U-turn on the Hume Highway was a dream come true for Mott, to be heading back to hit with a former world number one in Pat Rafter.
Date: 11/02/2010
Publication: Illawarra Mercury
Section: Sport
Page: 40
