Narre Warren North teenager Bryanna Fisers is combining her studies with a budding tennis career. Picture: Luke Plummer.By Marc McGowan
HOW would you handle facing a former world number one in your chosen sport?
That is exactly the question Narre Warren North’s Bryanna Fisers was faced with in last month’s Traralgon International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament.
Fisers, 16, battled her way through qualifying at the traditional lead-in event to the Australian Junior Open before bumping into 16-year-old Russian prodigy Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round of the main draw.
A first-up three-set victory over fellow Australian Alexandra Cannizzaro set Fisers up for the most daunting task of her burgeoning career so far.
While Pavlyuchenkova, who reached the top junior ranking in 2006 and is now surging up the senior female rankings, beat the local star in straight sets, the match was invaluable, according to Fisers.
“It was a little bit intimidating, but it gave me a good insight into what kind of level you have to play at to be the best,” the year 12 St Margaret’s School student said.
“The best thing about her was her timing. She had perfect timing of the ball, excellent movement and could place the ball everywhere.
“I definitely had nothing to lose and it was more of an experience than anything.”
Fisers has a tough year coming up as she combines her tennis career with VCE studies.
A university degree in either journalism or commerce is likely to accompany her tennis in the future.
But Fisers plans on taking a break from studies to focus on tennis in 2009.
“It’s pretty hard because most people I compete against don’t go to school,” she said.
“I have to try to be pretty organised to fit in study and competition so that I don’t get behind the other girls.
“Next year I’m aiming to have a pretty solid shot at tennis and take the year off because I’m pretty young for a year 12 student.”
Every week Fisers, who regards her serve as her biggest weapon, endures six days of tennis-specific training and three fitness sessions to stay in peak form, which makes for a hectic lifestyle.
“I would never give tennis up because it’s probably one of the biggest parts of my life and is really important to me for a lot of reasons,” she said.
“I’ve felt like, especially with friends, I have had to make sacrifices, but it’s worth it. I think I have a good balance.”
An eight-tournament ITF schedule awaits Fisers this year as she attempts to improve her ranking to the stage she can compete at next year’s Australian Junior Open.
But before that the talented teenager has a host of Australian Money Tournaments this month and in March.
Fisers will look to draw on the experiences she had when she was first establishing herself.
“When you’re first on the scene you’re not seeded and to get ITF points you have to win two matches in a tournament,” she said.
“It takes a long time, but you have to keep trying and not give up.”
