25 September 2012 | Tennis ACT

Canberra teenager Ashley Keir will lead the ACT women’s team to compete in the new Asia-Pacific Tennis
League (ATL) in November.

The 18-year-old scholarship holder with the National Academy Canberra is currently the sixth-ranked
junior in Australia.

She will be joined by fellow Canberran and tour player Alison Bai in the Canberra ATL women’s team to
play in the NSW/ACT conference.

Ranked 758 in the world, Bai, 22, spends most of the year playing International Tennis Federation (ITF)
events around the world.

With a WTA singles ranking of 869 and doubles ranking of 352, she is the most experienced young player
in the team.

Canberra-based Tarlina Tipungwuti, 20, and NSW pair Tyra Calderwood and Nicole Hoynaski (NSW)
complete the line-up.

With a career-high WTA singles ranking of 57, former professional Annabel Parolo (nee Ellwood) will bring
invaluable experience to the rookie line-up as team manager.

Parolo said she was excited by team’s prospects in the new league.

“We are the strongest team on paper in our conference,” she said. “All five girls are of similar standard and
we are confident of doing well.”

The five Australian conferences will be played in November with four conference rounds and a conference
final.

The five Australian conference winners, plus a team from the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Asia will
compete in the national final at Melbourne Park during the 2013 Australian Open in January.

The Canberra ATL women’s team:
Ashley Keir, 18, currently No.6-ranked junior in Australia with WTA ranking of 758
Alison Bai, 22, WTA rankings: singles 869, doubles 352
Tyra Calderwood, 22, WTA rankings: singles 920, doubles 190
Nicole Hoynaski, 18, Australian ranking 47
Tarlina Tipungwuti, 20, Australian Ranking 125
Annabel Parolo (manager) career-high WTA singles ranking 57, doubles 60