Written by Rob Crawford
The ITF Super-Seniors World Team Championships is the highest ranked team event on the ITF Seniors Circuit for male and female players in the age categories of 60-80.
In 2011, Tennis Seniors SA team members Roger Davey, Bruce Rehn, Ray Woodforde and Henry Young will representing Australia in the Super-Seniors World Team Championships held from 10-15 October in Antalya, Turkey.
Roger will play in the 60+ team. It is his 2nd inclusion in an Australian Seniors team. Roger began playing tennis when he was 10 years old in Port Pirie. In 2010 he was runner up in the Australian Championships and won the Gold Coast tournament. Previously he has won several South Australian Senior Tennis singles events and has also won 10 Jamestown Easter tournaments. Roger is the current president of the Glenelg District Tennis Association.
Bruce is in the 70+ team. Bruce started playing tennis in Cowell when he was 10. He first represented Australia in 2000 and has been selected several times since in Australian teams. He has consistently been ranked number 2 in Australia. He was runner up in the World Championships in 2009, and has reached the semi-finals in other World tournaments. Bruce is well known in Adelaide as a tennis coach, and his students have included a very young 7 year old Sam Stosur.
Ray Woodforde is representing Australia in the 75+ team. He has played for Australia on 4 previous occasions. He was very thrilled to be a member of one Australian team that won the World Championship against the USA. Ray’s tennis career has been long and successful. He has won many South Australian tournaments including both junior and senior events. He has been a professional coach for many years, and has been generous in his advice to many Senior Tennis SA members.
Henry Young will play in the 80+ team. Henry is a very young 88. He is very mobile around the court – remarkable for his age, and especially because of a “refit” (Henry’s words) 3 years ago. The “refit” included 2 knee replacements and a hip replacement. Henry plays Senior’s tennis on Tuesdays, and also plays at Memorial Drive on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Henry is thrilled to be playing in Turkey. His infectious enthusiasm is typified by his comment – “only four of us in the team so should get plenty of tennis – Eureka”.
The World Championships are held at club Ali Bey on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. The venue has over 60 clay courts. Each team will play 4 or 5 matches, consisting of 2 singles and one doubles, each being the best of 3 sets. There is a total number of 153 teams taking part, and about 20 to 25 teams will compete in each age group (there are 10 teams in the 80+ event).
There are about 500 players competing in the individual events, and one or two of these events include up to 90 players – close to the player numbers in the Grand Slam events.
We congratulate Roger, Bruce, Ray and Henry on their selection and they have the best wishes of SA Seniors Tennis for a successful and enjoyable tour.
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