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On Thursday August 18, newly turned 13-year-old Katya celebrated her birthday in Montreal, Quebec together with her mom, Olga. It was slightly completely different than what she’s accustomed to. That’s as a result of it was her first for the reason that pair arrived in Canada from their residence nation, Ukraine. “It was slightly uncommon to rejoice a birthday with out relations and mates,” she mentioned.
Earlier this 12 months, having been approached by the Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) and Ukrainian Tennis Federation, Tennis Canada raised its hand to assist a household in want. “It’s simply so tragic, gut-wrenching and heartbreaking to see what’s taking place in Ukraine,” mentioned Hatem McDadi, Senior Vice President of Excessive-Efficiency Improvement at Tennis Canada.
“When the ITF reached out to our CEO and the Chair of our Board on the time, we mentioned in fact we’d assist. Olga and Katya have been actually wanting to obtain that help. We rallied the tennis neighborhood and really feel so grateful and appreciative for thus many sort and beneficiant those who offered plenty of help. We have been in a position to work with Tennis Montreal, Tennis Quebec, companions, our employees and nationwide coaches to assist help Katya and her household as they settle into their new residence. Katya and her household have been via a lot. They’ve proven great braveness, resilience and on the identical time are grateful to our tennis neighborhood for serving to in a time of want.”
A promising tennis participant in Ukraine, Katya has seen her life turned the wrong way up by the battle going down in Europe. In fact, the concern for the protection of her family members has all the time been high of thoughts, however the limitations the battle has placed on her tennis growth has additionally been irritating for {the teenager}. “For the reason that starting of the battle, I had no coach and my stage of tennis started to step by step fall – which made me very upset,” she mentioned.
So, when the chance to return to Canada was introduced to the household, Katya, Olga and their 14-year-old canine, Lola, determined to make the journey to Montreal through Munich, the place they spent a while ready for his or her visa functions to be accepted.
As soon as they arrived in Quebec, Katya was invited to coach at a program run by Tennis Montreal with Tennis Canada funding her participation. She additionally takes half in a weekly session on the Nationwide Tennis Centre introduced by Rogers beneath the tutelage of a few of Canada’s most distinguished coaches.
“Canada and all the type and beneficiant donors and folks concerned have accomplished loads for us,” Katya defined. “They helped us with paperwork, offered us with flights, lodging, participation in tournaments and most significantly for me, they discovered me a spot to coach and a coach. They’ve nice courts and an important staff of coaches, and it offers me nice pleasure to coach with them. More often than not I prepare with Montreal Excellence – that is precisely the type of coaching I would like.”
“Total, I’m simply so grateful to Canada, Tennis Canada, Tennis Montreal, the Montreal Excellence staff and everybody who made donations for every thing they’ve accomplished for me,” she added.
Katya’s schedule contains schoolwork every morning, adopted by sports activities research within the afternoon, which consists of two hours on-court and one hour of health. Her assigned coach, Mira Teodorescu, is initially from Romania and performed Junior Billie Jean King Cup (then Fed Cup) for her nation earlier than shifting to Canada 18 years in the past. It’s protected to say Katya has made fairly the impression on her.
“My first assembly with Katya was in September when this system began at Tennis Montreal,” Mira started. “It was a really good assembly as a result of Katya was so sort, so decided, so social and really easy to speak to.”
“Katya works so laborious,” she continued. “She got here right here so open minded, and he or she desires to be taught every thing. Day-after-day I spend together with her is a blessing. She modified my life as a result of I noticed a unique side on life. Typically gamers hand over if it’s troublesome, however she by no means offers up. She all the time desires to enhance. It takes time however she can be an important individual and an important tennis participant.”
Already, Katya is making her presence felt on the Canadian junior tennis circuit, selecting up titles at occasions in Ottawa (pictured above with trophy) and Drummondville. In the course of the summer season, she was additionally invited to attend the Nationwide Financial institution Open introduced by Rogers because the ATP Tour’s stars descended on Montreal for a week-long competition of tennis.
“Because of Tennis Canada, I had the chance to attend an exquisite ATP match in Montreal – it was an unforgettable expertise,” she mentioned. “I noticed the sport of the perfect tennis gamers on this planet stay.”
Tennis Canada has the Benefit as a result of it can provide an Benefit, prefer it has for Katya and Olga. Let’s hold the Benefit in Canada and donate to assist develop the subsequent technology of Canadian tennis stars. Click on here to donate now.
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