Koharu Nishikawa is a younger Aussie on the rise.

The 14-year-old from Melbourne aspires to someday be identical to her hero Ash Barty, and has made a reputation for herself in tournaments around the globe in 2023.

At the moment enjoying for Australia on the Junior Billie Jean King Cup finals in Spain, she additionally represented her nation earlier this 12 months as a part of the Australian 14-and-under women’ group that completed sixth on the 2023 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals within the Czech Republic.

In our sequence profiling Australia’s most promising junior gamers, Nishikawa displays on her favorite tennis experiences to date…

Inform us about your begin in tennis?

I began enjoying tennis once I was 4 or 5 years outdated, and I began enjoying as a result of my brothers performed and yeah, actually take pleasure in it.

What do you take pleasure in most about tennis?

I like competing and I like competing each day, and that feeling of chasing one thing and attempting to win.

Do you continue to play together with your brothers?

Yeah, I can truly beat them now. In order that’s an enchancment. Certainly one of my brothers, he truly laid down on the chair and we thought he was half-crying. Proudest second of my life.

What have been your tennis highlights?

I’ve been lucky to journey rather a lot this 12 months and representing Australia within the Czech finals in World Juniors. That was most likely the spotlight for me.

What did you be taught out of your time in Europe?

A number of particular issues on and off the courtroom, particularly off the courtroom. Assembly new folks and completely different cultures and studying about completely different nations and being uncovered to them is one thing I discovered rather a lot from.

Koharu Nishikawa on the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Juniors Finals in Cordoba, Spain (Picture by Manuel Queimadelos//High quality Sport Photographs/ITF)

What are your long-term targets in tennis?

I’d like to play Grand Slams and be on the tour. Hopefully win the Australian Open as a result of I’m from Melbourne, that’ll be superior.

What’s your largest inspiration?

I’m impressed by Ash Barty. She’s retired, however she was my position mannequin. I like her selection on courtroom, but additionally the way in which she handles every thing off the courtroom. My coaches, my dad and mom and my household additionally encourage me to work more durable.

Do you mannequin your recreation model like anybody particularly?

Yeah, talking of Ash, I’ve actually modelled my recreation round her. Her slices and her selection in her recreation.

In case you may steal a stroke from any participant, what would it not be?

Ash’s slice! I’d love that, that will be wonderful.

What has been your most memorable expertise as a tennis fan?

Watching Roger Federer win his 2017 Australian Open in opposition to Rafael Nadal. The five-setter, I used to be watching it on the TV.

Being from Melbourne, is it a objective to play on the Australian Open someday?

It’s like an actual objective for me. I imply, I’ve been watching the Aussie Open so long as I can bear in mind, so the subsequent step for me might be play a junior Grand Slam.

What’s your earliest reminiscence of the Australian Open?

I bear in mind going once I will need to have been like 5 years outdated, and it was like 40 levels. It was so sizzling. I simply bear in mind sitting on a present courtroom watching.

What do you love to do outdoors of tennis?

I like hanging out with my buddies, simply chilling with my household and going for walks. Simply the easy issues.

How would your loved ones and buddies describe you?

I hope they describe me as a simple going good friend and I’m decided in what I’m doing. I hope they suppose I’m sort additionally.