Mrva, 15, displays star credentials in turnaround AO juniors triumph
The Czech Republic’s Maxim Mrva was a set down to Brazilian wildcard Nicolas Oliveira in a 11am start when he called a toilet break for a minute or so. It was all the time he neediest to regroup before putting together a forceful yet quite sublime two sets of tennis and entertainment.
The ninth seed may be too young at 15 - or perhaps not - to win this year’s Australian Open junior event but he already has the makings of a star. Turning out in swirly, multi-coloured shorts of the kind favoured by the senior tour’s Frances Tiafoe this tournament, he has presence as well as top-class performance.
His almost casual manner is deceptive and he pumped himself up - shouts of encouragement were commonplace - to eventually blitz Oliveira 3-6 6-1 6-1.
This month is his first time in Australia, but he has played himself in well: he reached the third round in Traralgon (Victoria) last week, as well as the final of the doubles.
“I was nervous beforehand. I knew if I play good I will win. Stay focused I told myself at the end of the first set,” he said.
“(So) I went to the toilet, I was telling myself I can do it. I will see how far I can go (this week).”
Shouting at himself is typical, he said in an effort to try and retain focus and which he did admirably. It also brings to mind his rather well-known tennis hero.
“I like Nick Kyrgios,” he beamed. “I like his style, he's bringing a lot of new people to tennis. I think he is good for the sport.”
Much later on court 16 there was an upset when Australia’s Hayden Jones, seeded 12, lost a two-hour-27 minute marathon to Andrii Zimnokh in probably the junior match of the day. Jones will rue leaving a shot from Zimnokh at break point in his favour at 5-5 in the final set. The ball looked to be going long but, in the gusty conditions, landed on the baseline and the Ukrainian held serve and then broke to seal the match.
Jones, from the Gold Coast, will be deeply disappointed to lose a contest that was a heavyweight baseline battle that swung to and fro throughout. A member of the Australia party at the Junior Davis Cup competition last year he was also an orange boy for the Australian Davis Cup team in Germany and will have hoped for better in Melbourne this month.
Jones reached the third round as a wildcard in this competition a year ago and looked devastated at the end of his 2023 endeavour. He does have a further shout at glory though when he plays again in the doubles on Monday.
Indeed it was not the best of days for Australian tennis with Charlie Camus, another Davis Cup orange boy, falling in straight sets to Poland’s Tomasz Berkieta in an early morning match.