Combining the demands of being an elite athlete with university study is a challenge which Territory tennis prodigy Adil Hakeem is looking forward to.
The Charles Darwin University (CDU) Bachelor of Commerce student hopes to have the same success in the classroom as he has enjoyed on tennis courts around the world.
At age 17, Adil is already regarded as our finest tennis export. With his achievements so far including success at the Guwahati International Tennis Federation Championships in India during December 2007, many feel that his inaugural win on the ITF Tour is the first of many.
Adil said he choose to study at CDU because it gave him the opportunity to combine quality teaching with external study.
“Studying externally means more flexibility and freedom with arranging both my tennis and educational commitments,” he said.
“I think external study requires a great amount of commitment, disciple and time-management skills. I continually remind myself that the hard work I put in now is going to help get the things I want later.”
Currently ranked 125 in Australia behind big names such as Lleyton Hewitt and Wayne Arthurs, Adil hopes one day to grace the green grass of Wimbledon and the red clay of Roland Garros, but for now he’s more than happy with where he’s at.
“There are so many different paths to take that could lead me to totally different places,” he said.
“At the moment I’m just going to live in the present because there are enough things here to keep my mind occupied.”
Adil’s attitude toward his sport and study is refreshing and his outlook on life is no different.
“Movies are in a way like our real lives, everything gets better in the end. And if things don’t get better, it’s not the end it just means the story’s not over yet.”