The Canberra Velocity Women’s team are set to make their mark on the Asia-Pacific Tennis League (ATL) Playoffs which will be held at Melbourne Park from January 25-26. The Playoffs bring together eight Women’s and eight Men’s teams from the Asia-Pacific Region.
Velocity will be competing for a winner’s cheque of $30,000 and bragging rights in the team based competition. The team will take plenty of confidence into the finals after winning the North Conference title in December. Velocity will face the tough task of taking on top seeds, Royal South Yarra’s in the first round on Monday at 11am.
Alison Bai will again spearhead the team, and has just come off playing doubles at the Australian Open. Bai who combined with Naikitha Baines, dropped a tough three setter against American’s Irina Falconi and Vavara Lepchenko in the first round. Currently ranked 324 in the WTA rankings, Bai is coming off a career best season in 2015 which saw her win her maiden Pro Tour title and reach a career high ranking of 305.
In a boost to the team, Alexandra Nancarrow will return to the singles line up for the first time this season after recovering from a hand injury. Nancarrow only managed to play doubles for Velocity in the regular season, and with a singles ranking of 482, she will add plenty of experience to the team.
Ashley Keir will line up at the number three position and is coming off a finals run at a Gold Australian Money Tournament in Newcastle. Keir and Tyra Calderwood also got in some valuable doubles matches ahead of the playoffs, by also making it through to the finals at the event. Calderwood, playing in her fourth season with Velocity will be a tough competitor at the number four position.
16 year old Kaitlin Staines is also in Melbourne, currently competing in the Australian Open junior girls singles and doubles. Her availability will be dependent on Monday’s schedule of play.
Player and team manager, Nancarrow said “The team is feeling pretty good leading into the ATL Playoffs. Alison is coming off competing at the Australian Open, and Ashley has been playing over the summer and is in great shape. I will also be back into the singles line up at the number two position which increases our depth. We are also feeling really confident with our doubles combinations”.
Velocity are sure to face some tough competition from South Conference Championships Royal South Yarras,. The team features Thailand’s Varatchaya Wongteanchai who is currently ranked 260. Storm Sanders and Tammi Patterson who both played in the Australian Open singles, will also line up for the Yarras. Daria Gavrilova, featured for the Yarra’s in the regular season, but it unavailable for tomorrow’s match as she is still competing in the Australian Open.
ATL Playoff action commences at 11am on Monday 25th of January on the western courts of Melbourne Park.
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