Andriana Petrakis, one of Australia’s leading tennis players with intellectual impairment (PWII), has been invited to compete at the Australian Tennis Championships at the Australian Open this year.
The event is by invite only as long as you’re in the top six in the world, and Andriana currently ranks number five.
Last year the Greek-Australian won her first title at the same event in what was a changing of the guard moment, defeating top-ranked Kelly Wren.
Wren has pretty much won the title for the past 25 years, but Andriana rose to the occasion and claimed victory to now sit rank No.2 in Australia.
The 21-year-old has also competed internationally – last June in France at the Global games she finished fifth, and subsequently earn her global ranking. In 2022 she competed in Poland at the European Summer Games and won two bronze medals for the mixed doubles and women’s team event.
Andriana, who has autism, got into tennis at an early age almost as an outlet.
“My dad recommended me to play tennis and it has been very good for my social skills, fitness, health, hand eye coordination and maintaining positive connections in the community,” she told Neos Kosmos.
Her father Petros Petrakis shared that at the time the family didn’t have the money to get Andriana into occupational therapy, and because their other two kids already played, they thought it would be a suitable alternative.
“We thought it would help her with social interactions, but we didn’t know that it will eventually end up getting to the point we are at now,” he said.
“To begin with it was just there to get her out of the house and to socialise on Saturday mornings with other kids.”
He says it is an outlet for his daughter and if it wasn’t for tennis she wouldn’t be out there that much you.
“On the tennis court, it’s almost seems like she’s an equal. People don’t see her autism.”
Off the court, Andriana is extremely proud of her heritage and has other interests to keep her busy.
“I have been very passionate and proud of my Greek heritage for my whole life,” she said with gleeful smile, while also saying she is very grateful.
“I feel very connected to my family, friends and everyone else, and that makes me feel happy.
“Apart from playing tennis, I love reading books, watching movies, learning about cultures, going to the beach and spending time with my family. I would love to go to Greece one day.”
While intellectual impairments affect everyone differently, for Andriana, she benefits greatly, having an almost photographic memory where she’ll remember even the smallest of details from registration numbers on cars that drive past, to the birthdays of every person she has met.
The tennis superstar also takes her skills and uses them to help children and adults with disabilities by coaching Pickleball for an organisation named One Culture.
Pickable is a modified version of tennis, badminton and table tennis with smaller nets, bouncy balls and other modified equipment.
Lastly, Andriana wished to share a message to everyone out there.
“Stay positive. Keep working hard. Try to stay determined and continue to live your life while having fun and be successful at every area you focus on.”
