Australia will field an all-star wheelchair tennis team at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, to be held in Sardinia, Italy this week from 1 to 7 May 2017.
Four Sydneysiders including Ben Weekes (Strathfield, NSW), Adam Kellerman (St. Ives, NSW), Keegan Oh-Chee (Eastwood, NSW) and the team’s first ever ‘orange boy’, Stephan Rochecouste (Glenfield, NSW) are all overseas to take part.
Australia has maintained a strong position at the international tournament and has competed in the prestigious World Group 1 category for the last three years.
At last year’s World Team Cup in Japan, Australia finished fourth out of 12 teams. This year’s format will see an increase in the number of teams from 12 to 16.
Oh-Chee is looking forward to experiencing the team camaraderie that comes with the World Team Cup.
“World Team Cup is a fantastic opportunity to work together. Expectations become based less on individual results and more about achieving team goals, being competitive and enjoying playing against some of the world’s top tennis teams,” he said.
Tennis Australia National Academy wheelchair coach Vernon Cheung is also looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“We’ve got a really strong team and I’m looking forward to heading over to Sardinia,” he said.
“Between Ben Weekes, Keegan Oh-Chee and Adam Kellerman, we have a highly experienced team and I’m confident we’ll be a powerful force at this year’s tournament.”
Rochecouste was also delighted to be heading to Italy.
”It’s an honour to be selected as orange boy for this year’s World Team Cup,” he said.
“I’m most looking forward to being amongst the guys that I’ve looked up to over the last few years, being a great supporter and getting some hitting time in with the boys in the lead up.”
Australian wheelchair tennis team for BNP Paribas World Team Cup:
Ben Weekes (Strathfield, NSW) – Australian No.1, world No.20
Adam Kellerman (St. Ives, NSW) – Australian No.2, world No.42
Keegan Oh-Chee (Eastwood, NSW) – Australian No.3, world No.61
Stephan Rochecouste (Glenfield, NSW) – Orange boy
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The BNP Paribas World Team Cup is the ITF’s wheelchair tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup.
There are divisions for men, women, quads and a junior event supported by the Cruyff Foundation. It is held annually with a different nation playing host each year.
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