28 January 2015 | Tennis Queensland

The Asia-Pacific Tennis League came to a grand conclusion at the Australian Open, Melbourne Park with the playoff of all state and international conference champions.

Queensland was well represented in the ATL playoffs with three teams competing. Three-time Queensland Conference men’s victors Tennis Brisbane Chargers, 2014 women’s break-through winners Tennyson Volt and women’s wildcard entrants and Queensland Conference runners-up, the Shaw Park Sharks all descended on Melbourne Park for their chance at the Asia-Pacific title.

After finishing in third at the 2013 play-off, and second last year, the Chargers men’s team was eager to go one better and finally take the crown in 2015.

Although faced with an incredibly tough draw that started with a first round appearance against defending champions New Zealand, the team came out fighting and with determination and a team bond that has developed through playing together since the league first began, the men came through with an undisputable 5-1 whopping of their former rivals.

The Chargers continued their top form into the semi final where they were bid against top seeds Royal South Yarra. The Yarra’s team included some of Australia’s best, Luke Saville, Alex Bolt, JP Smith and Adam Hubble; but the Queensland team, brought a strong attack in the form of Ben Mitchell, Rob Smeets, Maverick Banes, Gavin van Peperzeel, Joel Lindner and Mitchell Harper.

The all-Queensland Chargers lineup proved too strong for the local favourites, blitzing through to the final with a convincing 4-0 win. Great achievements considering the top three Yarra’s representatives are all ranked in the top 200 in the world.

In the final, the Chargers went head-to-head against Japan’s Phoenix in what was to be a nail-biting conclusion. At the close of the final rubber, the teams found themselves on a 3-3 tie forcing a count back on games. The final score of 3-3 37-35 was in Queensland’s favour earning the men their first ATL title and the bragging rights of joining Dylan Alcott as the only Australians to walk away from the Grand Slam as champions.

Although ecstatic to finally get their hands on the title and $20,000 champion’s cheque, manager Warwick Nicol believes mostly, the players are happy that their hard work and years of playing together as a team has finally paid off.

“The boys played for each other. There was an incredible team atmosphere between them all throughout the Queensland Conference and in Melbourne’s playoff.

“They $20,000 cheque was a great reward for their dedication, but I know each and everyone of them would have happily play for nothing,” he said.

In the women’s draw Tennyson Volt finished fourth overall after losing a tight semi final to Flagstaff Freighters. Wildcard entrants, the Shaw Park Sharks finished 5th overall losing a close first round tie to MCC Stars.