2 August 2016 | Tennis Queensland

New Tennis League set to put team tennis on the map across the Sunshine Coast

Tennis teams from the Sunshine Coast are gearing up for the launch of the Sunshine Coast Tennis League, commencing in early August. The competition is set to be the pinnacle of team tennis for local players, who will battle it out against rival teams in one of three divisions, Premier League, Division 1 and Junior Division.

Team tennis has a rich history on the Sunshine Coast, especially in recent times with Grand Slam Champion Pat Rafter calling the Coast home during his time as Davis Cup Captain for Australia. In late 2013, Rafter also showcased team tennis using the FAST4 format at Kawana Tennis Club, giving locals an exciting preview of the format to be used in this upcoming league.

With a history on court himself, Pat’s brother and long term manager, Steve Rafter who is still based at the Coast is excited about the opportunities the SCTL will bring for players and the community alike:

“The Sunshine Coast Tennis League will give our rising stars and top players on the Coast an avenue to compete locally and is a great way to revive inter-club competitions in our region.”

“Perhaps more important than that, it is also a platform to showcase tennis as a team sport and connect players and spectators alike to that concept and all the benefits of playing in, or supporting, your home team,” said Rafter.

“We have seen such a great atmosphere and Australian spirit amongst players and fans in the team environment of the Davis Cup so it will be great to bring that experience home to the Sunshine Coast.”

A key player to watch during the season will be Australian No.18 Gavin Van Peperzeel, who took Pat Rafter to three sets in the Kawana showcase match in 2013, and in 2015 achieved titles in Serbia F7 Futures (CL) and Australia F9 Futures (H). Joining Rafter and Van Peperzeel will be Australian No.55 Mitch Robins, Baez Nielson, Pat Flynn, Sam Ryan, Sam Oster and many more aspiring athletes from the Sunshine Coast.

The mixed teams will be comprised of at least three men and one woman. In a preview of Queensland’s future female superstars, the player list will include 16 year old Somer Dalla-Bona (Australian No.61), Australian No.153 Tayah Cross, Eliza McKean, and Kristina Lane. These players will feature in the Premier division of one of the following six teams: the Coolum Cobras, Mooloolaba City, Mooloolaba United, Noosa District Redbacks, SC Regional Raptors and the ZTA Blitz.

Ties will take place at clubs across Coolum, Nambour, Mooloolaba, and Caloundra, welcoming players and spectators from all regions. Each team match will consist of four singles rubbers (three men, one woman), a men’s doubles and a mixed doubles rubber in best-of-three FAST4 sets.

The Sunshine Coast Tennis League becomes the fourth regional premier competition for Queenslanders, and will culminate in a playoff against North Queensland, Gold Coast and Brisbane teams at the State Playoff to be held during Brisbane International 2017 presented by Suncorp.

Watch all the action as it unfolds from Saturday 13 August 2016 at Coolum Tennis Club. Further details on locations and times are below.