‘Living in Shepparton, living anywhere you can still achieve what you want’: Tennis duo called on for state team

By Daniel Webb

Aug 25, 2022

Significant achievement: Jeremy O'Brien and Zach Ranson have been selected in Victoria’s Pizzey Cup team. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Two Shepparton tennis talents have been named among the best young players in the state, with Jeremy O’Brien and Zach Ranson selected in Victoria’s 2022 Pizzey Cup team.

The Year 11 pair will join other secondary school students in the side, with the cup an annual national tennis tournament conducted by School Sport Australia in partnership with Tennis Australia.

Set to be held in Western Australia from Saturday, August 27 to September 3, O’Brien will make the trip west as part of an eight-person team, while Ranson is an emergency.

Both playing their tennis at Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and in Melbourne, the duo has its sights set on a potential college career in the US and O’Brien said he was excited and proud to be selected in the team.

“It’s good to be with some of the best under-18s in the country,” O’Brien said.

“It will definitely be a good experience and definitely tough, I’ll try my best, but it’s obviously tough taking on the best of each state.”

With the tournament set to be played on grass courts, O’Brien said his experience at Shepparton Lawn would hold him in good stead.

He said he’d been playing the sport since he was six years old, with a strong serve and aggressive forehand helping him win matches.

“At six I was just picking up the racquet and then later on I got a bit more serious,” he said.

“There was a trial date about a month ago where we had to head down to Melbourne and played a few matches, but they look at not just the trial date, but other matches and your career.”

Like O’Brien, Ranson was proud to be selected in the team, with the talent holding a strong backhand and tactical mind on the court.

“It’s a privilege, coming from a country town you often don’t get these opportunities,” Ranson said.

“I think it’s really good to see all of the hard work we put in paying off.”

In action: Jeremy O’Brien returns the ball for the Shepparton Lawn Tropics earlier this year. Photo by Aydin Payne

O’Brien and Ranson play pennant tennis in Melbourne for Grace Park every Saturday.

“We’ve grown up together, trained together, go to school together, everything,” O’Brien said.

“It shows you can still achieve things even if you are in regional areas and it’s hopefully showing other kids that you can still do it, living in Shepparton living anywhere you can still do what you want.”

“We’ve both spoken about college tennis,” Ranson said.

“I think it would be a really good opportunity after school to go over there and play in America.”

With plenty of commitment helping them get to this point, both took the time to thank their parents, along with coaches and others in the tennis community who have helped them on their journey.

“It’s really cool to get this opportunity for the both of us,” Ranson said.

An opening ceremony will kick off proceedings in Perth on Saturday, with tennis action beginning on Sunday.