Former child tennis star Jade Hopper now a partner in a law firm at just 30 ...

Former child tennis star Jade Hopper now a partner in a law firm at just 30 ...
Former child tennis star Jade Hopper now a partner in a law firm at just 30 ...

At just 12 years of age Jade Hopper was making history both on and off the tennis court as Australia fell in love with the gutsy blonde poppet who seemed wise beyond her years.

A tennis prodigy alongside sister Skye in the early 2000s, Jade shot to instant fame after she appeared as the youngest ever person to be profiled on the ABC's Australian Story.

The daughter of famed coach Gavin Hopper - who at the time counted Pat Cash and Mark Phillipoussis in his high-powered stable - Jade seemed destined for greatness as her junior ranking rocketed and apparel giant FILA signed her to a two-year deal - making her the youngest player to ever do so.

Prodigy: A young Jade Hopper, pictured with Aussie tennis legend Pat Cash, was destined for greatness

Prodigy: A young Jade Hopper, pictured with Aussie tennis legend Pat Cash, was destined for greatness 

Now 30, she has hung up her racquet and is a partner in a prestigious law firm

Now 30, she has hung up her racquet and is a partner in a prestigious law firm

Disgraced dad: Gavin Hopper was sentenced to almost three years in prison

Disgraced dad: Gavin Hopper was sentenced to almost three years in prison 

But in 2004 it all came unstuck after her father was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and six counts of gross indecency after a former student claimed they had a relationship when she was only 14.

Hopper, who was a high school P.E teacher at Melbourne's Wesley College during the late 80s, was 29 at the time of the offence.

The victim, who was 33 when the case was finally heard, told the court they had sex about 300 times over four years at their homes, at school and in hotels.

Hopper sought her out, initially flirting and being "overly friendly" after volunteering to partner her during tennis lessons. 

Aged 48 at the time of his conviction, Hopper was ultimately sentenced to 3 ½ years’ jail but served just the minimum of two years and three months.

For young Jade, it was a seismic blow to both her life and her tennis career and set in motion a tumultuous few years as she tried to deal with the fallout and also continue her tennis career without her coach and father.

Tenacious:  Jade Hopper was known as being a gusty doubles contender before quitting tennis in 2010

Tenacious:  Jade Hopper was known as being a gusty doubles contender before quitting tennis in 2010 

Jade Hopper seen shortly before her retirement from tennis

Jade Hopper seen shortly before her retirement from tennis

'I was spat on by people in the street,' Jade now tells Daily Mail Australia exclusively from her newly adopted base in Melbourne.

'So it's fair to say it wasn't all sunshine. And I definitely remember being a teenager... it was just just awful because, you know, when you're travelling by yourself on a tennis tour, you're, you know, you don't have these people, your support network around you all of the time.

'You're kind of alone and exposed. So there's definitely those memories, and it was not always been pleasant.

'And I definitely avoided certain people or

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