Tennis instructor Birgit Gruner, a former amateur champion, is passing on the torch.
Saskia Maurushat, 11, from Nelson Bay, Australia has spent a portion of her summer in the North Okanagan working with Gruner to improve her game.
Maurushat competes at the national level and she goes to Gruner for lessons in order to stay sharp during her vacation.
Gruner practised with Maurushat’s father, who got Maurushat into the game.
“Daddy played tennis and he loved it,” said Maurushat with a slight Australian accent.
Her parents play tennis and as a dual-citizen, Maurushat has spent about a month in Canada and visiting relatives in the Okanagan.
“Its very important for Saskia to have fun,” said Gruner.
She’s been playing since she was three and participated in her first competition at five. Last summer, she also spent time in Vernon with Gruner.
“(This time) I improved my backhand,” said Maurushat.
Gruner has also noticed improvements.
“Everything is improved,” said Gruner, who listed Maurushat’s speed and power as major weapons getting stronger.
She plays at the national level and participates in competitions in Canada as well.
She likes playing tournaments in Canada because she said the players are friendlier.
However, “there’s not as many people at the (junior tournaments),” she said.
She noted that Australia has an ongoing season while in Vernon, tennis can only be played during the nice weather.
Maurushat looks up to tennis players Eugenie Bouchard and Sam Stosur and even got to meet them. Her coach nicknamed her Mini-Eugenie.
Gruner starts her tennis lessons in the spring at her home on Swan Lake and has been residing in Vernon for 20 years.
Her lessons are nothing like the one’s Maurushat had in Italy.
“The hardest lesson I’ve ever had was in Italy because I can’t speak Italian,” said Maurushat.
Her next tournament is in Australia.
“This time I’m not going to come third like I did last time, and hopefully I won’t have jet lag,”
Maurushat’s mother, Alana Maurushat, described the game as “like a game of chess” as your anticipating your opponents next move.
“You really have to think multiple moves in advance. It’s a very intellectual game. Tennis mentally is the hardest sport.”
On the side, Maurushat plays violin and participates in multiple sports like martial arts and at one point, gymnastics.
