6 January 2016 | Tennis ACT

The most prestigious and important domestic junior event, the December Showdown, was held at Melbourne Park from Dec 3-20. National titles were decided for 12/u, 14/u, 16/u and 18/u age groups.  The standout performance came from 12 year old Annerly Poulos who made the final of the 14/U Australian Championships.  On her way to the final she beat number 2 seed Madison Bishop ranked 2 in Australia in the 14 year age group, along with 3rd seed Olivia Gadecki who is ranked 1 in Australia in the 13 year age group.  She fell in the final to Australian’s number 1 14 year old and top seed Amber Marshall 7-6, 7-5.

Other ACT players who competed at the showdown included Ashleigh Simes, Alyssa Simoncini, Chloe Koundouris, Charlie Snow, Sam Bisa, Jack Lyons, Matina Ujdur, Luke Sarris, Zac Donaldson, Dimi Morogiannis and Kaitlin Staines, who had a solid tournament, reaching the quarter-finals of the 16/u girls singles and the semi-finals of the 16/u girls doubles event.

Congratulations to the Canberra Velocity womens team, who won the North Conference and qualified for the National ATL finals in Melbourne for the 4th year in a row. The team consisting of Alison Bai, Alex Nancarrow, Ashley Keir, Tyra Calderwood, Kaitlin Staines and Annerly Poulos won the semi-final and final comfortably. The National Final will be held at Melbourne Park on Monday and Tuesday of the 2nd week of the Australian Open out on the back courts. If you are at the Australian Open on those days, don’t forget to go out and support the team.

Canberra Velocity player’s Alison Bai and James Frawley came within one win of earning a wildcard in the Australian Open 2016 Mixed doubles championships.  Participating in the Win a Wildcard competition, the pair made it all the way to the final, before falling to Jess Moore and Bradley Mousley.  Alison also competed in the Australian Open 2016 Wildcard playoff, but was defeated in the first round.

The ACT participated in the 12/u and 14/u Teams Championships with the following results