Melbourne’s Lynn ready to rock at home
Published Wed 19 Apr 2023
Andre Lynn represented Australia at the 2022 World Junior Championships and he’ll be eyeing off back-to-back appearances when he steps on court for the Australian Junior Open in Melbourne later this week.
Having both the AJO and WJC in his home city of Melbourne should prove advantageous for the 18-year-old whose home courts are at the famed Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
“To represent Australia for a second time at the WJC would be very special,” said Andre. “It makes it more exciting as the host country.”
Like many of his peers, it was family who introduced Andre to the sport which he has committed wholeheartedly to for around five years.
“I started playing squash through my parents,” he said. “They had been playing many years before I started.
“I have been playing since I could hold a racquet but started training properly around the age of 10.
“I played AFL for a couple years and football for six years when I was in school. I stopped playing other sports for squash when I was in year 8.”
Andre has recently started training under 2018 Australian Open champion Rex Hedrick who knows what it takes to make it to the top domestically and internationally. He is inspired by Peru’s Diego Elias - “my favourite player and I can’t explain why; just have to watch him play” - who this week became the first South American to reach the number one world ranking.
Following his appearance at the World Junior Championships last year in France, Andre also gained international experience playing in the British Junior Open, US Junior Open and the Scottish Junior Open where he finished third.
“My main goals coming up are to win the Australian Junior Open and make the selection for the World Junior Championships Australian team,” said Andre.
That campaign swings into top gear later this week when the AJO begins at Melbourne Sports Centres.
A quarter finalist last year, Andre Lynn is seeded second in the under 19 draw and will meet either William Slade or Liam Linton in the round of 16.
The Australian Junior Open will take place at Melbourne Sports Centres on 22-24 April.
