Storm Sanders is a former SIDE student and the inaugural interviewee for Term 1 newsletter.
When did you graduate from SIDE?
I graduated from SIDE in 2011. I completed my Year 12 ATAR and did 4 subjects during Year 12 whilst also competing full-time on the Junior International tennis circuit. I completed Geography, Human Biology, English and Maths.
What did you do after finishing school?
Once I graduated from SIDE, I got offered a tennis scholarship based in Melbourne, so I moved to Melbourne and have been living here ever since. I began competing on the professional tennis tour full-time playing all around the world. Some of my career highlights so far include representing Australia in the Fed Cup team, making the Quarter Finals of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open in 2018, playing at Wimbledon, and a career high doubles ranking of 63. I also decided to start my Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2013.
What are you doing now?
I am still competing on the professional tennis tour although I have been injured for 1 year so I got my tennis coaching qualification and have been coaching full-time in Melbourne. I have just started competing in tournaments again and will be heading to Europe in about 4 weeks for the French Open and Wimbledon. I am also hoping to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I am also in my final semester of my undergrad degree so I am very excited to finish that in about 2 months, as I have been completing it part time for 6 years.
How did SIDE prepare you for life after school?
SIDE really helped me prepare for life after school for both my tennis career and university studies. Being at SIDE, I had to learn to manage my time really well, be an independent learner and also to be organised and responsible. These skills have transferred into my tennis career as I have to be my own manager with booking my flights, hotels, schedule and practice.
