Helga's Bar Q&A: Elvira Karaikovic

We're honoured to sit down with multiple RTC reigning women's champion and division 1 (number 1) star Elvira Karaikovic. Elvira has achieved an incredible amount in her young life so far.

First intro to tennis and at what age:

My first introduction to tennis was in 2004 when I was 9 years old. I saw the sport on TV and wanted to play so my parents found me a local coach

Years playing:

13

Hometown/area:

Adelaide Schools attended:

• Ingle Farm East Primary School

• Para Vista Primary School

• Marryatville High School

Occupation:

Uni Student Clubs:

• Modbury Tennis Club

• Rostrevor Tennis Club

• Athelstone Tennis Club

• Trinity Gardens Tennis Club

• Tea Tree Gully Tennis Club

• Finally back to Rostrevor

Individual highlights:

Team

- Winning 2007 Compass Lightning Carnival 12/U

- Winning 2009 Wodonga Victorian Junior Grasscourt Championships Team Cup

- Representing Marryatville High School in Wogga Wogga, NSW

- Winning 2009/10 District Super League EDTA

Doubles

- Winning 2005 North East Junior Open Tournament 10/U girls doubles

- Winning 2008 Head Junior Series 14/U girls doubles

- Winning 2009 Just 4 Tennis Junior Open 14/U girls doubles

- Winning 2009 Riverland Junior Tennis Renmark Grasscourt Championships 14/U girls doubles

Singles

- Winning RTC Tournament

- Competing in Nationals in Melbourne and Brisbane

- Winning 2010 WTC City of Unley Junior Classic 14/U Girls Singles

- Winning 2009 Optus Winter Nationals girls singles compass 14/U

Premierships

- 2005/06 Modbury Tennis Club Div. 3 Grand Finalist

- 2007/08 Rostrevor Div. 4 Grand Finalist

- 2008/09 Rostrevor Div. 1 Grand Finalist

- 2012/13 Rostrevor Div. 1 Grand Finalist

- 2013 Winter Pennant Grand Finalist

- 2013/14 Rostrevor Div. 1 Grand Finalist

- 2014/15 Rostrevor Div. 1 Grand Finalist

- 2015/16 Rostrevor Div. 1 Grand Finalist

Favourite tennis memories:

I am lucky to have a family that has been so supportive of me and my tennis. I have travelled a lot with them playing tennis around Australia and have a lot of great memories from that. Some highlights for me though would have to be:

- Meeting Stan Wawrinka and other players like Ivan Ljubicic, John McEnroe, Henri Leconte, Kei Nishikori, Pat Cash and Leyton Hewitt when I was a ball kid for the WTC in Adelaide.

- Competing in Nationals around Australia and meeting fantastic people

- Winning GF's with Rostrevor over the years

- Seeing my name on the board in the Rostrevor club room for the first time

Best thing about tennis:

One of the best things about tennis, for me, is the exhilaration I feel when I am in a point and the adrenaline that it sometimes brings. The challenges that the sport brings to constantly better yourself, whether it be short term when you’re in between points or long term, is very appealing to me. If I was asked this when I was younger and just started playing I would have probably said something like winning or how active it is, however, throughout the years I have learnt to appreciate the mental side of the game a lot more. Tennis is a sport that needs both high physical AND mental stability which I love. Overall, the best thing about tennis for me is the lessons I have learnt from the game that spans outside of the tennis court such as patience, the ability to handle pressure, keep concentration and maintain self-confidence.

Best thing about RTC:

There is a lot to love about Rostrevor, however, one of the best things for me is how supportive everyone is at the club. Throughout my time playing tennis I always jumped from club to club depending on what positions I was offered or how high a division I could play in but what brought me back to Rostrevor from playing in pennant to playing in Div. 1 was the great people and the great impression it left on me when I was young. Other clubs I have played for have usually been about the results and wins but stop short when it comes to providing an open and inclusive feeling at the end of each match or day of tennis played. However, this is what Rostrevor has in abundance. The club has always felt like a tight knit community to me and I have learnt a lot from Rostrevor and its many members.

Favourite tennis player/players: Growing up I have always been an avid supporter of Roger Federer, and I still am. However, I now take more of a shine to the beautiful backhand of Stan Wawrinka.

Past players:

My favourite past player would have to be Justine Henin with Kim Clijsters being a close second

Other sports highlights and achievements:

I have a passion for sports in general so I have played many other sports throughout school. My first taste of sport was when I was five competing in Little Athletics. Shortly after I played club cricket and an array of sports followed: soccer, softball, rugby, basketball and volleyball. I have been a part of many teams for school competitions and have great memories playing in team sports with friends.

Other Interests:

I am a huge bookworm and am always in the middle of a book. I also love volunteering with St Vinnies and backing my favourite sports teams: Manchester United and Collingwood (I know, don't hate me).

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