Set for senior serve

By Marc McGowan
NEW Tennis Seniors Association of Victoria president Paul Kleverlaan is hoping to run a veterans’ tournament in the City of Casey early next year.
The Cranbourne East resident took over as president of the association last month, after Ray Fitzgerald stepped down from the post.
“It’s a good honour to be asked to do something like this at my age,” he said.
“I really enjoy what I do and the healthy lifestyle. I’m happy to give it a go for a year or two and try to increase the exposure a bit.”
Kleverlaan, 38, is already one of the region’s most prominent tennis figures – holding coaching posts at Casey and Casey Fields tennis centres and Pearcedale Tennis Club.
He is also the tournament director of the annual events the Casey Junior Masters and Casey Open Classic.
Kleverlaan now hopes to add a couple of Casey-based competitions onto the 35-and-over calendar.
“I’ll be looking to introduce a few veterans’ social tournaments at Casey Fields and Casey Tennis Centre,” he said.
“I’m thinking some time in February or March, following on from the Australian Open, when the weather is good.”
Kleverlaan competes on the veterans’ circuit and held a career-high singles world senior ranking of four in 2005.
Injury kept him off the court for six months this year, but a doubles win in last month’s Casey Open Classic with Doveton rising star Trent Cobb showed he was back to full fitness.
He is playing in a veterans’ qualifying event in South Australia in January for the right to compete in Spain in April.
“I love the different people you meet in tennis and the fact you can play it for life,” Kleverlaan said.
“I was just looking at the results from the world championships (in Turkey) and there is an 85-years-and-older age group.”
Next year’s Casey Junior Masters will start on 26 January, coinciding with the second week of the Australian Open.
Entrants will play matches at Casey and Casey Fields tennis centres.