Andriana Petrakis, leading PWII tennis player, has been awarded The Advertiser Foundation Young Achiever scholarship at the The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year Awards 2025.
The scholarship provides Petrakis with $10K to put toward her education and tennis career.
“I feel so privileged about this because what it means to me is due to my dedication, determination, hard work, commitment… I continue to (keep) my positive attitude while never giving up during my tennis career,” Petrakis said on her award win.
When asked by Neos Kosmos how helpful this scholarship will be for her she said: “This means a lot to me as it helps me to fulfil my goals and dreams of being a professional tennis player.”
“The money goes towards some new tennis rackets, extra coaching for me and personal training sessions, to compete in more disability and mainstream tournaments.”
Petrakis, who has autism, got into tennis at an early age as both an outlet and a way for her to build hand eye co-ordination, movement and social skills.
She is now ranked number five internationally and number two in Australia in the women’s singles PWII category and was awarded Tennis SA’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability in 2023.
Petrakis is also an autism advocate and assistant coach with Tennis SA’s Pathway Program where she inspires other participants with disabilities.
“I feel very proud, humbled, grateful, delighted and honoured..to make a huge, special difference to others in the community,” she said.
“I have been encouraging others to play tennis…if some of those people with disabilities want to have a go at playing tennis one day it would be an awesome experience.
“Everyone, let’s work together as a team, stay strong, stay happy, spread kindness to each other, love your own families, keep following your dreams…continue to keep living life to the fullest and remember to keep working hard.”
It’s busy month ahead for Petrakis, who will attending the SA Sport and Recreation Office’s International Women’s Day event early next week.
She’s also guest speaker at the Autism Forum event in Mount Barker before attending the new South Australian Sports Institute office for an opening event.
Next month in April before Easter and her PWII Canberra tournament, she’ll be doing a public speaking for an organisation named Talk Out Loud at the Volunteers Gala Night.
