Australian juniors George Diable, Ceresha Jackson, Brooke Komorowski and Novak Palombo are currently training in Mallorca.
Mallorca, Spain, September 18, 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Four promising Australian players are currently training at Rafa Nadal’s academy in Spain.
George Diable (WA), Ceretha Jackson (Qld), Brooke Komorowski (NSW) and Novak Palombo (Vic) earned their opportunities by winning their age groups at the Rafa Nadal Tour Australian Masters in Melbourne in January.
Their prize included flights to Mallorca and two weeks of free training at the Spanish champions’ academy.
“It’s intense so I’m tired at the end of every day but it’s been a lot of fun,” said 15-year-old Diab, who revealed that his best experience was watching Nadal train.
“The coaches were very helpful,” added Jackson, who counts Nadal as his favorite player. A personal highlight for the 13-year-old was a visit to the Academy Museum to see Nadal’s collection of trophies and memorabilia.
Palombo, 12, echoed her peers, describing the experience as “really amazing.”
Cereza Jackson, Brooke Komorowski, Novak Palombo and George Diable from the Rafa Nadal Academy.
Komorowski has qualified for the Australian Masters every year since its introduction on the Rafael Nadal Tour and has twice won the Trophy of Value, which recognises players who have demonstrated a positive attitude and exemplary behaviour both on and off the court.
The 15-year-old from Sydney, who has been ranked in the top four at the Australian Masters on the Rafael Nadal Tour for the past two years, was thrilled to be crowned champion for the first time in January.
“It was a huge motivation,” Komorowski said of winning the Tour of Spain. “It meant a lot to me.”
Komorovsky named Elena Rybakina and Arina Sabalenka as her favorite players, saying she wants to “become world number one and win a Grand Slam”.
“It was really great to see what other players were like,” she said of the biggest lesson she took away from her academy visit.
“It was a really great experience. All the coaches were really great and the training was really intense.”
David Boyce, manager of the Rafa Nadal Tour Australia, is delighted that all four Australian juniors have gained so much from the experience. He is particularly pleased with Komorowski and hopes her tenacity and dedication will inspire future participants.
“She had just turned 10 when she won the Trophy of Value in her first competition,” Boyce said.
“Last year Brooke won the South Australian Championship to qualify for her fourth Masters, and in January she won the tournament to finally earn a place at the Spanish Academy. She is a great example of someone who lives her values and gets things done.”
> Learn more: Rafa Nadal Tour Australia
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