By JARROD POTTER
OUR own up-and-coming tennis stars will battle the rest of Victoria in the third edition of the Asia-Pacific Tennis League.
Squaring off against five other teams in the South East Conference are the Waverley Warriors based out of Robinson Reserve Tennis Centre, Doveton. Returning to lead the men’s team in 2014 is last season’s captain Aaron Leeder-Chard with Dubravka Rakonjac to play and coach the women’s team in pursuit of conference glory.
Team manager Lyn Gillen believes the Asia-Pacific Tennis League side at Waverley will be a great way for local tennis fans to watch high-calibre action.
“There are some good reasons for people to come along and watch some great tennis,” Gillen said.
“Not all are necessarily current tournament players, but they come out and play at a high standard.
“The men’s team is very similar to last year – Aaron Leeder-Chard, who is the captain again, Daniel Ferretti and a new player Daniel Nolan, who has been part of the Tennis Australia system.”
“Our girls are a much younger team, but we’ve gone with the concept of trying to promote the local kids and give them the opportunities.
“Gabriella Sprague is currently in the Philippines playing an ITF tournament and went through two rounds of qualifying to make it into the main draw while Dubravka – she’s really enthusiastic to be a player and a coach.”
Berwick’s Laura Rabinovic has been tentatively announced as an ATL wildcard for the women’s team while coach Marco Salamanno is the men’s wildcard.
The winning team from each conference is offered the opportunity to compete at the ATL Playoffs. Wildcard positions will also be offered to New Zealand, the Pacific Oceania region and Asia. The ATL Playoffs will be held on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 January on the outside courts at the Australian Open.
The competition starts Friday night at Dingley Tennis Courts for the men’s competition and at Frankston for the women’s, with the Warriors hosting Round 5 of the men’s draw on 12 December from 6.30pm.
WAVERLEY WARRIORS
MEN: Manager – Lyn Gillen. Coach – Steve Blundell/Marco Salamanno. Aaron Leeder-Chard, Daniel Ferretti, Daniel Nolan, Sam Dowler, Aaron Addison, Trent Cobb.
WOMEN: Manager – Lyn Gillen. Coach – Dubravka Rakonjac, Rebecca Bran, Jaide Collins, Sophie Torcello, Noelleda Ah San, Gabriella Sprague, Dubravka Rakonjac, Emily Martin, Samyuktha Rajagopalan, Stephanie Serafidis.
