WJC Profile | Thomas Scott

Thomas Scott’s journey to claim the Australian Junior Open title this year is one that will be remembered by many who were there for a long time.

While junior tournaments have a knack of directing the top seeds to the final, this year’s Boys Under 19 competition was not so typical.

New Zealand’s second seed Freddie Jameson looked to be making a good fist of his semi-final against Scott until at 2-0, the Sydney-sider flipped the switch. He went on to defeat Jameson to make the final, while in the other semi the top seed was also taken out in a five game marathon.

With two giant killers facing off in the final there was great anticipation of a long and drawn-out contest, however Scott remained in control from the outside to take the biggest title of his career inside half an hour.

Despite his heroics in Melbourne, Scott says his goals for 2024 and the World Junior Championships in particular have not moved.

“My personal goals have remained the same but it was definitely the most I’ve learned from a tournament and I’m looking to take that confidence and experience into a bigger tournament,” he said.

“I would love to make it to round three, however I’m not too results-oriented for this tournament and just looking to play my best squash and show up well for the team.”

Scott had the rare opportunity to play a World Junior Championships at home when he finished inside the top 80, but the teenager is excited at the opportunity to compete overseas at such a prestigious event.

“It was great having the comfort of playing at home, however travelling to Houston and being able to explore somewhere else is definitely more exciting,” he said. “I’m most looking forward to playing some of the top juniors in the world and pushing myself.”

After the World Junior Championships, Scott will be focused on the end of year 12 before going on to bigger and better things once he’s out of the junior ranks.

“I finish high school in October/November then I’ll just try to lay the best foundations I can to hit the ground running for the start of my senior career.”