• By winning titles at J60 Christchurch, J60 Wellington and J100 Auckland, Kai Milburn has won all 15 of the main draw singles matches he has contested in 2024. This is the joint-most – alongside Christina Lyutova – on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors this season. His next scheduled event is J200 Nonthaburi, which gets underway on 26 February.

 

• Milburn represented New Zealand during last year’s Davis Cup Juniors qualifying event (Asia/Oceania region) in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The only singles match the teenager lost that week was when he used borrowed rackets and shoes after his luggage was delayed. Kai’s dad, Mark, led the New Zealand team in Kazakhstan and said: “When he got his own kit, he just turned it around. It was the best I’ve seen him play, easily. It was next level.”

 

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• Milburn’s triumph at J60 Christchurch was his first singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors. Towards the end of last season, he did reach the final at J100 Christchurch to suggest he had title-winning potential. Topping the podium at J60 Christchurch clearly had the desired effect given that two further titles, including the biggest of his career at J100 Auckland, followed in quick succession. Milburn did, however, claim two ITF World Tennis Tour doubles titles in 2023 and also won the doubles at J60 Wellington this year.

 

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• For the second year in succession, Milburn has received a $12,500 ITF-administered Grand Slam Player Grant, financed through the Grand Slam Player Development Programme. The Grand Slam Player Development Programme was established in 1986 to encourage competitive opportunities for players from developing tennis nations. Through the delivery of Grand Slam Player Grants, the programme seeks to increase competitive pathways for players.

 

• Queenstown’s Kai Milburn and his siblings Dan and Noa are all tennis mad and have each been playing tennis since the age of three. Last year they revealed that as part of their fitness regime they collect and chop firewood alongside their father. It has clearly worked.