The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Justin Roberts is fast becoming a household name on the International Tennis Federation’s junior circuit.

At 17-year-old and six feet tall, Roberts has grown into a mature player who has been rewarded with one of the two spots on the Bahamas’ tennis team for the second Youth Olympic Games to be held in Nanjing, China, August 16-28. He will be joined by Grand Bahamian Rasheed Carey.

“It’s a big deal for me. I think in my junior career, I had some good results, but I haven’t reached those big events like the Grand Slams,” he said. “I just have to be able to play in the big events so I have to achieve those games.

“But to be able to represent your country in such a prestigious event as the Junior Olympics is something that you work so hard for all your life. That’s why you spend so much time in the gym and on the road training, so you can show your skills on the big stage.”

Currently ranked at No. 175 in singles and 162 in doubles, Roberts has produced a 13-8 win-loss record in singles and 11-5 in doubles so far this year. For his career, his singles mark is 38-31 and doubles is pegged at 47-32.

“I think I’ve had a great season,” said Roberts, who is coming off a big week at the ITF Grade 2 Biesterbos Open 2014 in Castricum, Netherlands, where he lost in singles, but teamed up with Viktor Kostin of Germany to win the doubles title.

“I was pretty consistent this year. Compared to my previous years, I’ve been very consistent,” Roberts said. “I know my game more, so I don’t have that much problems with my ups and downs. I am getting to learn how to deal with it.”

Although he was home for the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament played at the National Tennis Centre a week ago, Roberts did not participate. Instead, he watched from the sidelines as he took the time to recuperate from the hectic schedule overseas.

“Hopefully I will get the chance to compete for our country. I would really like to compete for Davis Cup,” he said. “I am going to be moving to Tampa for school, so I will be a lot closer. I was training in Holland for the last three years, so hopefully these next couple of years, I will be more involved with the local programme.”

Roberts, the highest ranked Bahamian on the ITF junior circuit, will be enrolling at the University of Tampa where he intends to play on the collegiate scene for about a year to get some exposure before he ventures onto the pro circuit.

“I want to be able to build up my career so that when I move onto the pro scene, I will be ready,” said Roberts, who intends to study business as his major. “I was home training, but on Monday, I will be heading to the school to train for about three weeks before I come home to travel to the Junior Olympics with the team.”

Having played in a series of junior national teams, including the Jr Davis Cup, Roberts said he’s eager to go to China to shine for the Bahamas as he starts to prepare for his collegiate and senior career.