Listen here to an interview with John Connor of Team Australia

People from all over the world were milling about as athletes in the men's and women's singles and doubles tennis competition competed for the gold.  Not a cloud dotted the sky above the Cintra Park Tennis Centre in Concord, a western suburb of Sydney.  Approximately 225 competitors from 51 countries competed in matches over a two-day period on omni turf courts.  It was a sunny, 80-degree day.  Not all the athletes were accustomed to playing in this kind of heat and sun - especially the British! 
 
   

There wasn't a children's competition per se, but two young boys from Team Australia, Michael Burgess (13), from Baulkham Hills, a northwestern suburb of Sydney, and Marko Juric (15),  from Adelaide,  decided to play doubles.  They played against two athletes from Team Argentina, both of whom were 25 years old.  Both Michael and Marko are competing after receiving kidney transplants.  Michael's was from a cadaveric donor while Marko received a kidney from his father, Ivan.  This was their first World Transplant Games and they've never played tennis together before. 

Meet the two youngest athletes that competed in tennis today:  
Interview here, story below: 
 

Michael was diagnosed at 11 months old with progressive kidney disease.  After a series of operations when he was small, Michael received a new kidney from a cadaveric donor on April 20, 1997 at the age of 13.  He enjoyed playing tennis before his transplant, as well as playing soccer and bike riding with friends.  His younger sister Jennifer said, "He loves his sister and he was really brave when he had his transplant."  His father said, "When the call came through, Michael said that this was the best day of his life."

Michael Burgess (left) of Team Australia  and his family

sten to Michael's thoughts about competing in The World Transplant Games by clicking here. 
 

"All of our family and friends are watching  TransWeb's coverage of the games in the Bosnian and Croatian Club in Adelaide,"  said Marko's mother Marinka.  The Jurics are of Croatian decent but have been residing in Adelaide for years.  Marko's father donated his kidney to Marko when he had his kidney transplant right before Christmas in 1995.  The doctor performing the transplant as well as the anesthesiologist came to the Baptist church with Marko's family to pray before the surgery.  Within three weeks of his operation, Marko was playing tennis as he did before the transplant.

Marko Juric (with tennis racket) of Team Australia and his family

   
Rules: 

(Singles and Doubles)

Format: 8 game pro set to semis. Semis and up, TBA. 

To accommodate those eliminated after one match in the first round, Games Organizers will organize a separate tournament for first-round losers in the singles for each event. No medals will be awarded for this consolation event, and winners do not "re-qualify" for the medal round.

Doubles will commence when the quarter finals of the singles event have ended.

September 30 and October 1