THE inclusion of an international visitor spiced up the 2009 Gladstone Park Tennis Tournament. European entrant Pavle Kordic returned home with heavier travel cases.
He was victorious in the boys' singles under-16 and under-18 events.
By the end of the tournament, he was the most wanted boy at the courts.
"He certainly added a bit of excitement because everyone was gunning to beat him," tournament organiser Gabriel Moise said. "When you get someone like that it enhances everyone else to play that bit better."
Kordic was in Melbourne to visit his cousins over the holiday break. He impressed with his crafty touch from the baseline and a booming serve.
"He would have been close to six feet," Moise said.
"He had the height that gave him a big serve and real big groundstrokes."
Miranda Sciamarella was granted entry to the boys' side of the draw to ensure sterner competition and more matches.
The home-grown talent turned out to be one of revelations of the tournament.
"I gave her an option to play a final in the girls or go in with the boys to get more matches," Moise said.
"She went in with the boys and I thought she was really exciting.
"She cleaned up a lot of the boys."
The star on the girls' side was Gladstone Park product Tijana Trifunovich.
Ranked in the top handful of players in Victoria in her age group, the young gun eased to the 14-and-under girls' singles title.
For all she showcased at the Elmhurst Road club, her standout quality was her bullishness.
"She's little for her age, but she's a real fighter and quite a talent," Moise said. "She's like a bull terrier and she won't let anything go.
"She is so determined to chase everything and get it back over the net."
Moise has confirmed the dates of the next major junior meeting at Gladstone Park.
He will use the April 9-11 event to unveil three new courts that are due for completion by the end of the month.
Entries are welcome. Call Moise on 0418178328.
THE CHAMPIONS
GIRLS
10-and-u nder: Selma Mujaric (Gladstone Park).
12-and-under: Samantha Lasslett (Greenvale).
14-and-under: Tijana Trifunovich (Gladstone Park).
16-and-under: Miranda Sciamarella (Gladstone Park).
BOYS
10-and-und er: Daniel Caruso (Gladstone Park).
12 and under: Lucas Psaitis (Keilor Downs).
14-and-under: Michael Eddy (Essendon).
16-and-under: Pavle Kordic (overseas).
18-and-under: Pavle Kordic (overseas).
DOUBLES
10 -and-under: Martin Lan and Ayden Demirtel (Greenvale).
12-and-under: Stefan Stefanovic and Nathan Lewis (Gladstone Park).
14-and-under: Reuben Chew and Jorden Edsall (Greenvale).
16-and-under: Wajee Yamak and Pavle Kordic.
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