Peter Howe
What made a young Werribee man with a passion for tennis head overseas for seven months during a global pandemic?
For 18-year-old Dwaine Duncan, it’s a single-minded focus to win the Australian Open.
When we spoke it was on a freezing cold Monday night and he was being driven home from another eight hour day of tennis practice by his mother and was headed straight for an ice bath.
This has become the daily routine for the teenager.
“I left MacKillop College halfway through year 11 because [I was] trying to mix school, homework and family commitments with tennis,” he said.
“It just didn’t give me enough time on the courts to practice and hone my skills.
“I spend four hours on court each day practicing my skills either in a one-on-one with my coach or with my squad completing drills. I then spend an hour to an hour and a half doing either running or gym work like strength or power.
“They are full-on days, but it’s where you learn your lessons on strategy and resilience.”
Duncan’s love of tennis began when he was just four-years-old.
His mother, Lisa, an avid tennis player and local pennant champion, put a racquet into his hands and he immediately fell in love with the sport.
“I could feel this sport was meant for me,” he said.
Duncan has spent many years on the Australian circuit competing in, and winning, many tournaments along the way. Now he’s confident he’s ready for the next step – the rest of the world.
Duncan has played and been coached at Altona, Hoppers Crossing and Laverton Park tennis clubs.
Hoppers Crossing tennis’ Ryan Meehan was instrumental in his junior years, while the Laverton Park team of Vuk Skadarka and Stefan Skadarka, along with Australian Alpha Tennis Academy’s Tomislav Fadljevic are the key players in his team now.
“We are one big family with all the same goals,” Duncan said.
His first aim is to qualify for an International Tennis Federation tournament and secure an ITF point to gain a world men’s ranking.
That was behind his decision to head overseas last year. It was no small feat when competing against the world’s best.
Before heading overseas in September, he was number two in Victoria and number 10 in Australia in his age group. Overall in Australia, he was the 172nd ranked male.
Duncan’s best ranking is 1400 in the world in his age group but he sees that hurdle disappearing quickly.
He played tournaments in Germany, Netherlands, France, Greece, Turkey, Indonesia, Croatia, Cypress and Tunisia last year.
Duncan had some good wins against ranked players while overseas but he said the trip was more for the experience and understanding the European standard.
He said it was a different experience.
“Many countries were in lockdown because of COVID, but tennis tournaments continued,” he said.
“I was either on my own in these countries or with the remainder of the squad in Germany.
“I don’t get homesick, the trip taught me to become organised, on time and self reliant. I loved the culture in these countries and really enjoyed playing tennis in these centres.”
At 182 centimetres, Duncan, who is part of the Tennis Australia’s national academy squad, sees his forehand as his biggest strength.
“I see myself as an aggressive base liner,” he said.
“I don’t model myself on any modern day player but I would like to think I can become a fighter like Rafa Nadal, serve like Alexander Zverev and play my backhand like Novak Djokovic.
“My forehand however is unique to me.”
Duncan has his sights set high and as the May winner of the Don Deeble Sports Star Award, the Sunshine Western Region Sports Club is right behind this young man.
The award is sponsored by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club, Strathmore Community Bank and the Deer Park Club.
If you would like to nominate a monthly winner or attend a dinner at the Medway Golf Club, contact the club by emailing swrsportsclub@gmail.com or sms 0408 556 631.
