The Regina teenager hopes the Australian Open will be just one of many tennis experiences to come

Keegan Rice was only five years old when his parents made him learn to play tennis.

He has been swinging the bat ever since. Now she has made her debut on tennis’ biggest stage after recently playing in the Australian Open.

The 16-year-old tennis player from Regina, currently the reigning Canadian junior boys champion, said he fell in love with the game instantly.

“I really liked it,” he said. “I always wanted to play more with my parents on the weekends and get as much as I could.”

Rice’s parents signed her up for a camp at the Lakeshore Tennis Club after her first lesson. That fall, her first coach, Denise Fernandez, invited her to the Tennis Saskatchewan program.

“There was just something about him,” said Fernandez, Tennis Saskatchewan’s director of tennis. “His ability to see the ball and time the ball, especially at that age, surpassed all the other kids in his group.”

He was successful from a young age.

“I think his bat was almost his size, so he would walk and sometimes he would drag his bat a little bit,” he said.

Not only has Rice become Canada’s junior boys champion, he made his debut in January at the Australian Open, one of the sport’s four annual major tournaments, in junior boys singles and doubles.

He said stepping onto the court at the Aussie Open was a surreal experience.

“I got to play my first round doubles on Court 3, it was in the arena,” he said. – We played against the Australians, the fans were loud and the atmosphere was just electric.

He said he was more excited than nervous.

“I was ready to play. I knew I was just going to do my best.”

Rice didn’t win her singles or doubles match, but said she gained a lot of experience.

“I’ll know how next time to really process and deal with all the emotions. I think there’s a lot to learn.”

Fernandez said Rice’s greatest strength is her mental toughness and competitiveness.

“We don’t have all the resources like every other province in Canada,” he said. “But he has the mental part of knowing that he’s going to give it his all and he’s going to find ways to win.”

Rice has played across Canada, the United States and Mexico, but said the Aussie Open had a different feel.

“It was such a professional environment. I was more secluded, away from the fans and I felt like a real professional,” he said.

“In the locker rooms, just in the gym, you’re surrounded [the top players in the game] a lot of the time, so you also almost have to act like one and not be a fan, even if you want to be.”

WATCH|16-year-old Regina tennis phenom plays in Australian Open:

The 16-year-old Canadian tennis phenom says playing in the Australian Open was a surreal experience

Keegan Rice is the reigning Canadian Junior Boys Champion. The 16-year-old tennis player from Regina just returned from playing in the first Australian Open.

Rice was recently named Saskatchewan Youth Athlete of the Year.

Her Lakeshore tennis clubmate Teah Chavez was named Female Athlete of the Year.

Chavez has committed to play for the Ohio State University women’s tennis team next season.

Fernandez said the younger players now have role models in Rice and Chavez.

“The little ones, they all know who they are and want to come see them,” Fernandez said. “And our older kids in probably the highest practice squad are so excited to come back because sometimes they hit with them.”

Rice will soon return to train at the National Training Center in Montreal.

He plays in junior tournaments as well as a few men’s professional tournaments.

“Depending on my results, I’ll see where I can go,” he said. “I might be heading to California or playing my next tournament in France.”

Trying to have a tennis career while still in high school is a lot.

“I have final exams coming up really soon. Unfortunately I missed them in Australia. My life has just been busy, especially the last couple of months, but I’m enjoying it,” Rice said.

“I get to live and do exactly what I love, play tennis every single day.”