5 April 2017 | Tennis Queensland

A week out from jetting off to the UK to compete in the 2017 INAS World Tennis Championships, Australia’s ID team have rubbed shoulders with their Davis Cup idols.

The six Australian players have been training at the Queensland Tennis Centre at the same time as the Aussie team, who are preparing for this weekend’s BNP Paribas Davis Cup.

Today, the ID team took some time off court so the two Australian teams could meet – but then it was back to business.

“We’re just refining our shots and gets combinations doubles in doubles and building up our singles play, solidifying everything,” said 20 year old Joshua Holloway from Rockhampton.

For the ID team, it’s a rare chance to get together and prepare for the world championships.

“We come from different parts of Australia, Damian is down in Coffs Harbour, NSW and I’m all the way up in Rockhampton, I think I got the short end of the straw there,” laughed Holloway.

Australia will be looking to secure their third consecutive INAS world tennis title when world No.1 ranked male Archie Graham (Newtown, QLD) and world No.2 ranked female Kelly Wren (Engadine, NSW), Mitchell James (Burpengary, QLD), Joshua Holloway (Rockhampton, QLD), Damian Phillips (Coffs Harbour, NSW) and Carla Lenarduzzi (Camberwell, VIC) travel to England.

“I expect the Great Britons to be strong because it’s on their home turf and they have more competition players,” said top ranked Graham, who says this week is about coming together as a team and getting accustomed to playing conditions.

“We get a bit of a feel for the courts and being with the teammates and training together.”

Archie considers himself a singles specialist, however he won the INAS World Doubles Title last year with partner Damian Phillips.

“Doubles is a bit of fun, much easier than singles because you’ve got the whole court and doubles you’ve got a partner with you,” he laughed.

The competition will played at Bolton Arena in Horwich, Bolton, England and will be competed by eight countries including Australia, Great Britain, USA, France, Belgium, Poland, Russia and Czech Republic.