16 November 2015 | Tennis Queensland

The Asia-Pacific Tennis League (ATL) 2015 North Conference gets underway later this month in an action-packed three weeks of team tennis. In 2015, the ATL will amalgamate into two conferences (North and South) to ensure only the best of the best Australian teams compete. In a coup for Queensland, five franchises have been selected from the state to play for the title of North Conference champion and a place at the ATL Playoffs in Melbourne next January.

 

Eight teams in total from across South East Queensland, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory will go head to head in the North Conference, kicking off on 20 November at the Queensland Tennis Centre (Pool A) and Canberra Tennis Centre (Pool B).

 

This year’s tournament will see defending ATL champions, the Tennis Brisbane Chargers, back to headline North Conference Pool A, played entirely across South East Queensland. The Chargers player list for 2015 remains mostly unchanged and features ATP top 100 player John Millman and 2015 Queensland Open champion Robert Smeets amongst a strong field for both their men’s and women’s contingent. Millman’s year has been his greatest on record, from taking a set off Swiss maestro Roger Federer at the Brisbane International in January, to reaching a career best world No.71 in August 2015. The team hopes the successes of a great year on court will catapult them to the top of the leaderboard early in the 2015 ATL season.

 

The Chargers’ find themselves in a pool with three other Queensland teams, Tennyson Volt, Brisbane Sharks and Beenleigh Blaze. The Volt bring the likes of Queensland Money Race champion Kaden Hensel and former world No.1 junior Jason Kubler to the conference, hoping to challenge the fellow men’s team’s chances, whilst the Sharks and Blaze will be the teams to watch in the women’s draw.

 

Recent Wendy Turnbull medalist for Queensland Junior Athlete of the Year and two-time 2015 Pro Tour finalist Kimberly Birrell will be one to watch in the fiery Beenleigh squad. The team is determined to progress their conference results and make it to Melbourne in 2016 after falling short in 2013 and 2014 despite impressive results. The Brisbane Sharks, who are no strangers to the Melbourne Playoff enter the conference with a new name and brand, but familiar line up of top Queensland women. Their list includes Priscilla Hon, who returns to the team after her best year yet, winning the 2015 Brisbane Pro Tour event and reaching a career high ranking of world No.346 as well as Cairns Pro Tour finalist Olivia Tjandramulia.

 

Sole remaining Queensland team, the Sunshine Coast Breakers will travel to Canberra to kick off their 2015 season as part of North Conference Pool B. With the whole of Queensland behind them in the second pool, the Breakers will need to fight hard as they take on Sydney Saints, Western Sydney Warriors and Canberra Velocity. The out-of-state challengers boast names including world No.60 Sam Groth (Saints), world No.116 James Duckworth (Saints) and Australian Junior Fed Cup representative Seone Mendez (Warriors) who will all be hoping to lead their teams to a place in the North Conference final at the Queensland Tennis Centre on 6 December.

 

Watch all the action as it unfolds in the 2015 North Conference kicking off on Friday 20 November 2015 from 6pm at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson or 4.30pm at the Canberra Tennis Centre, Canberra. As well as first-class tennis, you can enjoy live music, food stalls and plenty of court-side activities at each round throughout the conference.

 

Asia-Pacific Tennis League North Conference, Queensland Rounds

Date	Venue	Pool	Starting from
Friday 20 Nov	Queensland Tennis Centre	A	6pm
Saturday 21 Nov	Morningside Tennis Centre	A	6pm
Sunday 22 Nov	Queensland Tennis Centre	A	1pm
Friday 27 Nov	Shaw Park Tennis Centre	A	6pm
Saturday 28 Nov	Beenleigh Tennis Club	A	1pm
Sunday 29 Nov	Sunshine Coast Regional Tennis Centre	A & B	1pm

 

Asia-Pacific Tennis League North Conference, Finals

Date	Round	Venue	Starting from
Friday 4 Dec	Semi Final	Sunshine Coast Regional Tennis Centre	6pm
Sunday 6 Dec	Final	Queensland Tennis Centre	1pm

 

Further details and full team lists can be found by visiting the ATL website: http://atl.tennis.com.au.