28 November 2012 | Tennis Queensland

The Shaw Park Sharks and Tennis Brisbane Chargers are the first

teams to qualify for the Asia Pacific Tennis League final to be

held at the Australian Open in Melbourne from 22-24 January 2013.

Both teams were victorious at the ATL QLD conference final held

in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Griffith University Tennis

Centre on Friday night.

The Sharks women team was triumphant over the Beenleigh Blaze

5-1. The Blaze got off to a great start with team captain

Shannon Golds defeating Sharks spearhead Rachel Tredoux

4-2 4-2. The Sharks quickly bounced back though with

Lyann Hoang continuing her great form from throughout

the competition with a straight sets victory over

Taylor Douglas 4-1 4-1. Impressive 14 year old

Lizette Cabrera was next on court for the Sharks

defeating Blaze number two Elizabeth James

4-1 4-0. Ashling Sumner rounded out a great singles

performance from the Sharks defeating Gold Coaster

Kimberly Birrell 4-0 4-3. The Sharks completed the

team victory when Ashling Sumner and Lizette Cabrera

combined to defeat Shannon Golds and Kimberly Birrell

4-1 4-3.

The Sharks were ecstatic with their victory and looking

forward to taking on the winners of the other ATL

conferences in Melbourne. Ashling Sumner spoke to Tennis

Queensland following the teams victory “It was a tough 

night against the Blaze who have a very strong line-up.

Our strength throughout the competition has been our 

depth and that was the case again tonight. Even though 

we are a young team I feel that we can compete well at 

the final in Melbourne.”

The Tennis Brisbane Chargers were victorious in the men’s

competition defeating rivals the Tennis Brisbane Tornadoes

6-0. Despite the one sided score line, each of the singles

rubbers were tight affairs. Chargers leader Michael Look

won a crucial opening match against Tornadoes captain

Isaac Frost. Look won a sudden death point at 4 all in the

third set tie-break to win the match 3-4 4-2 4-3. In the

other singles matches on the night, Chargers captain

Robert Smeets defeated Kaden Hensel 4-3 4-1.

Gavin van Peperzeel (Chargers) remained undefeated

for the competition with a 4-1 4-3 victory over

Tornadoes player Leon Frost and Chargers left hander

won a tough three set battle against Scott Puodziunas

4-1 3-4 4-2.

The Chargers will be bolstered for the final in Melbourne

by the return of Australian number five and Chargers team

member John Millman. Millman was away from the final in

Japan competing at an ATP Challenger where he made the

semi-final. Team captain Robert Smeets felt the team

would enjoy the final in Melbourne.“We have thoroughly 

enjoyed the entire ATL QLD conference. Each of the

hosting clubs have done a great job and put on a nice 

atmosphere for all of the players. I feel we can 

certainly give the competition a good shake down 

in Melbourne. John Millman will certainly boost our 

squad as he is currently in great form. We won’t be the 

favourites but we look forward to taking on the 

other teams.”

The final finish position for each team in the QLD

conference is as follows:

Women’s Competition

1)       Shaw Park Sharks
2)       Beenleigh Blaze
3)       Toowoomba Tigers
4)       Sunshine Coast Breakers
5)       Tennis Brisbane Chargers
6)       Tennis Brisbane Tornadoes

Men’s Competition

1)       Tennis Brisbane Chargers
2)       Tennis Brisbane Tornadoes
3)       Beenleigh Blaze
4)       Shaw Park Sharks
5)       Sunshine Coast Breakers
6)       Toowoomba Tigers

For further information on the ATL and for full results,

please visit http://www.tennis.com.au/competitions/

asia-pacific-tennis-league