Sunbury tennis star Jin Woodman received a nice surprise when he woke up on Monday morning.
In America for a training camp and tournament, Woodman was half a world away from the Australian Tennis awards.
Nominated for a second straight year, this time for most outstanding athlete with a disability, Woodman would share the honour with Hunter Thompson.
“There were four other people in the running and everyone had a good chance,” Woodman said from America.
“I was praying before I left that I would win it.
“This [Monday America time] morning and looked at my phone and I had 10 notifications on Instagram.
“The first thing I saw was a photo of me for the Newcombe disability award. I was stunned.
“I called my parents and asked if this was for real as I was half asleep.”
Woodman said winning this award was among the top three moments of his career so far.
The award caps off a year which has seen the 16-year-old become the number one ranked Australian quad player.
He has also moved into the top 10 in the world rankings for quad wheelchair tennis and he is currently second in the world in the junior boys rankings.
The year started at his home court at the Hume Tennis and Community Centre followed by his Australian Open debut.
He won his opening round singles and doubles match.
Woodman then suffered a major setback.
“It was a good start to the year and I was supposed to go to Korea and Japan,” he said.
“I fractured my femur when I fell out of my chair.
“Then it was four to six months out of tennis which was really hard. I love playing tennis.
“It was then baby steps and I had to learn to hit a forehand and backhand again, it took a while.”
While Woodman thought it would take some time to get back into form, he made an instant impact.
In his first tournament back in China, he won both juniors and senior events.
There were some more strong results and he made the US Open senior draw for the first time.
His results were enough for him to qualify for the season-ending 2025 NEC Wheelchair Singles Masters.
“I didn’t think that I would make the top eight at the end of the year,” he said. “I was ranked about 16.
“Each result got me closer. Being my first masters I wasn’t expecting much either as it’s the best of the best.
“I won my first game … I was super happy.”
Woodman said to have finished the season ranked at number seven exceeded all his expectations.
He was happy to be in the top 10.
With players up to 30 years older than him in the top 10, he said other players were starting to take notice of someone who is just 16.
Woodman will compete in the Orange Bowl International Championships to finish his 2025 season.
It’s the first time that wheelchair events will be held at the event. Woodman is the number one ranked boys competitor.
He’s hoping that 2026 will be even bigger.
“I’ve already qualified for the Australian Open and this time I’m hoping to go better than last year.
“I want to make at least three of the four slams, maybe all of them.
“Hopefully I can get to the top three in the world.”
