Ukrainian refugee Arsenii is Craigmillar tennis champion
Arsenii Opryshko, a Ukrainian refugee from Kharkiv has won the men’s singles for 2024 at Craigmillar Park Tennis Club.
The tennis player who came to Scotland nearly two years ago with his mum and dad, Olga and Vadym.
At 15-years-old Arsenii is believed to be the youngest winner of the trophy after beating Ali Colver, 6-2, 6-0 in the final.
The Opryshko family arrived in this country under The Scottish Government’s Super Sponsor Scheme with Arsenii already recognised as a top tennis talent who had access to special coaching before the family’s life was turned upside down.
They were holidaying in Egypt when the Russian invasion took place and with air space closed down were unable to return home.
After temporary refuge in Germany ended when it was determined they had travelled from a safe country, Egypt, residency was refused but the family heard of the Scottish Government’s scheme and a host was identified.
Initially, Arsenii played at the Hatton Club Kirknewton, but has moved to Craigmillar Park where club official Aly Finlay says: “This is Arsenii’s second full season at the club. He’s settled in really well – he’s a real character, incredibly talented tennis player and well liked by the membership. He’s a regular at match practices and features for our 1st teams in both doubles and singles.”
Arsenii also won the men’s doubles in partnership with Sean Wattegendera.
There was a teenage singles double as Hanna Augustynska took the ladies crown for the third time, beating younger sister Natalia, also an accomplished junior in her age-group, 6-2, 6-1 in the final.
Hanna and Natalia later teamed up to win the ladies doubles with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Alice Miller and Jane Wright.
Beaten men’s doubles finalists were Ali Colver and Matthew Hamill.
Shortly after arrival in Scotland Arsenii started making his mark in junior tennis tournaments assisted by Edinburgh Leisure who noted at the time
“Arsenii was a pupil at Gymnasium Number 13, a secondary school in Kharkiv. He holds a national ranking in his chosen sport of tennis and as a talented tennis player undertook three hours of tennis coaching per day.”
