13 December 2010 | Tennis Queensland

Samantha Stosur was awarded the inaugural Newcombe Medal at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne on Friday.

The Queenslander, 26, received the accolade for being Australia’s most outstanding elite player in 2010.

The Newcombe Medal is named to recognise the achievements of Australian tennis legend John Newcombe, who had the honour of presenting Stosur, current world No. 6, with the first ever medal.

The Newcombe Medal is the premier award on a night that recognises service to tennis at all levels – club, coaches, players, volunteers, community and officials.

“I think it is a great honour,” Stosur said.  “It is a really good initiative of Tennis Australia to put a night like this together for everyone to celebrate our sport. So to be the first winner of the Newcombe Medal is very special.

“Tennis is such a huge part of our culture in Australia, we’ve obviously got a great history and we’re trying to continue that now.

“You can only have that with clubs around the nation.

“I think for them to get the recognition for doing their best – putting in new courts, updating facilities, and having members and getting people out there playing is fantastic and getting recognition for that will help them strive and do more and do whatever they can.”

The other finalists for this prestigious Award category were Jarmila Groth (Vic), Lleyton Hewitt (SA) and Anastasia Rodionova (Vic).

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Spirit of Tennis Award to Australia’s No. 2 ranked male player Peter Luczak, a Davis Cup stalwart, in recognition of his outstanding leadership, passion, sportsmanship, goodwill and dedication to the sport, as well as his major contribution to the stature of tennis.

David Taylor, Samantha Stosur’s Coach and Australian Fed Cup Captain, was also recognised for his exceptional coaching performance in the sport this year by being awarded the Coaching Excellence, High Performance Award.
 
The winners for the Award categories are as follows:

Coaching Excellence – Club
Brett Lennard, ACT

Coaching Excellence – High Performance
David Taylor, NSW

Coaching Excellence – MLC Tennis Hot Shots
Matthew Bull, WA

Excellence in Officiating
Kerrilyn Cramer, Vic

Junior Athlete of the Year (Female)
Ashleigh Barty, QLD

Junior Athlete of the Year (Male)
Bernard Tomic, QLD

Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Senior
Andrew Rae, Vic

Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability
Daniela di Toro, Vic

Most Outstanding Club
Gove Peninsula Tennis Club, NT

Most Outstanding Tennis Community
Kendall Tennis Club, NSW

Most Outstanding Tournament
Burnie International, TAS

Volunteer Achievement Award
Ross and Allen Smythe, QLD

Spirit of Tennis Award
Peter Luczak, Vic

Newcombe Medal
Samantha Stosur, QLD