Young tennis talent Hugo Babakian will board a plane for Spain in the new year to begin a scholarship at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.
Hugo, 13, from Penshurst, spent a month at the academy earlier this year during a summer tennis camp, undergoing plenty of coaching while getting to meet his tennis hero Nadal.
Hugo’s work ethic and talent didn’t go unnoticed by the coaching staff, during the camp, and he was offered a scholarship for 2017 covering his tennis fees. Hugo will leave for the academy in early January.
“He was offered a scholarship when we attended there in July,” Hugo’s dad Kevin Babakian said.
“Hugo was boarding there the entire time and was on court six days a week, and because of his work ethic and talent they saw a very coachable kid and they expressed interest in him to come into their full-time program.”
Hugo said he was rapt to be given the opportunity.
“At first I was like wow, that’s a pretty big step, but since I’ve come back home from Spain I’ve been a bit bored. So I’m looking forward to it,” Hugo said. “I’m pretty excited to be leaving in a month’s time.”
He said he first picked up a tennis racquet when he was 5.
“I think my mum and dad wanted me to have a hobby and to try something out. So we got some group lessons and from there I got more into it,” he said. “Then when I was probably about 8 or 9 I was improving a lot and thought I’m doing pretty well at this.”
Before spending a month in Mallorca, Hugo also took part in the IMG Academy Discovery Open in Florida, after winning a qualifying event in Australia to attend the event. However, following time in both the States and Spain, him and his father preferred the tennis coaching offered in Europe.
The Rafa Nadal Academy was opened earlier this year and allows young people between 12 and 18 to be educated academically while training to become professional tennis players. Hugo will spend the mornings in school and afternoons playing tennis at the academy.
Hugo said he hoped to become a professional one day.
“I want to improve a lot physically and mentally and technically,” Hugo said, about his goals for his first year at the academy.
Hugo has been offered a one-year scholarship covering his tennis fees, while his parents will cover the costs of his schooling and accommodation. Hugo is currently coached by Rockdale’s Steve Colley.
