GEORGE NEWS - Remember the name Cuan Western? The 14-year-old from George recently won the Gauteng Super 8 in in his age group (u.14) which also placed him in the top seven in his age group nationally.
Cuan is coached by the Great Tennis Academy and a bright future is predicted for him.
His younger brother, Cooper (11), is also a tennis ace. Both get their inspiration from their father, Derek Western, who used to be a very competitive sportsman.
The brothers are committed to tennis and nothing stands in their way. During the strict Covid-19 lockdown last year, their father put up a tennis net across a quiet road at Fancourt where they live. This meant that the brothers could keep practising - and the long hours Cuan put in have now paid off.
Cuan is assisted by a strong team at Great Tennis Academy, including Letona Mokhitli, Lizelle Fourie, Eduard Steyles and Morné van Zyl.
Both the brothers give credit to their parents, Derek and Philipa, who make it possible for them to play tennis on a competitive level.
Cuan has had the privilege to go and watch tennis abroad. During a recent visit to Miami he attended the Miami Open and saw his role model, the Russian Andre Rublev, in action. He was impressed by Rublev. "He is fearless and never gives up," he says.
Cuan started to play tennis at age 10 and already knows this is what he wants to do after school. Currently he is home-schooled. "My aim is to be a professional tennis player, travel around the world and win tournaments," he says.
He stresses that tennis is his life. He works hard and on most weekdays he spends about four hours practising. He thinks it is important to get coaching and says if one wants to be a good tennis player, one should have the right attitude, have good foot work and always give one's best. He has learned a lot from his father.
Mokhitli says the coaches at the academy are excited by Cuan's achievements and the director, Lizelle Fourie, sees a lot of potential in both Cuan and his brother and thinks they could go far in tennis.
The brothers Cuan and Cooper Western practising on a quiet road in Fancourt where their father put up a net for them.
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