Andrew Coelho played at the Australian Open for the second time last week and is hoping to take to the court at Wimbledon this year.
By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills tennis dynamo Andrew Coelho has Wimbledon on his list of ‘to dos’ in what is likely to be a vital year in his career.
Coelho, 19, had his second taste of grand slam action last week when he partnered Alun Jones in the Australian Open men’s doubles against the number one seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan.
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) player made his debut in grand slam competition last year when he received a wildcard into the men’s doubles with Carsten Ball.
The duo wound up claiming a hard fought three-set victory in their first match in 2006 before bowing out in round two.
It was a much tougher proposition this time around, with the Bryan brothers, who have won all four doubles grand slams, proving to be a formidable combination and defeating the Australian pair 6-1 6-1.
“It was not the greatest draw, but it gives you a lot of experience. You get to see where you’re at,” Coelho said.
“They were all over us. They were really intense on everything – returns, serves.
“You could really tell they are the best team in the world at the moment.”
The match also provided a pleasant surprise for the teenager when it was switched to Rod Laver Arena from its original scheduling on Show Court Three.
“The atmosphere was great. That court is where you want to be playing,” he said.
“I wasn’t really intimidated; I was pumped. It was pretty good.”
Coelho, who is ranked 372 in singles and 296 in doubles, also attempted to gain entry into his home grand slam in the singles event, but struck another tough draw – Russian player Teimuiraz Gabashvili, who was seeded fifth in qualifying.
“The guy I played ended up qualifying, so I wasn’t that upset about (that loss), but I would have liked to have won,” he said.
Coelho was also unable to reach the main draw in any of the lead-up singles tournaments, but was circumspect about his summer.
“Before the tournament I’ve been trying to change a few things with the AIS coaches,” he said.
“It’s always tough to come out and play when you’re trying to do that, but the experience helped a lot.”
Coelho is attempting to become a more aggressive player on the court and incorporate a net game into his artillery.
This pursuit will go on the road with him when he heads to the AIS’s London base for an extended spell after a five-month stint there last year.
“We have a house there in London – it’s all pretty good. London is so easy to travel from,” Coelho said.
“(I’ll be going for) possibly even longer this time – maybe seven or eight months. My goals this year are to play a lot more challengers and to continue working on my game.”
It will also give Coelho a chance to catch up with his 18-year-old Swedish girlfriend Michaela Johansson, who also plays on the tour and is ranked 444 in the world in singles.
“I don’t talk much (about) tennis with her, which is good. She knows where I’m at and I know what she’s doing,” he said.
With his first full-time year on the professional tour behind him, Coelho is looking to move inside the top 250 in 2007 and qualify at the three remaining grand slams.
“I’ll see where my ranking is at. I don’t know about the French Open,” Coelho said.
“If I play really well at the start I might, but I definitely will (try to qualify) at Wimbledon and I’m not sure about the US (Open).”
