Few teams can lay claim to encompass the essence of team tennis more so than the Trinity Titans – They possess arguably the most stable and successful squad in the state, elite young talent, wise ‘old heads’ and unwavering support of their esteemed club.
After falling agonisingly short of a berth in the national playoff for the NTL last year, the Titans are backing themselves to take the next step with essentially the same squad as in 2011 but the quality, nous and winning mentality owned by this group ensures they are viewed as a genuine contender.
Club stalwart Adam Alessandrini shared some of his thoughts on the ATL in the lead up to this Thursday’s first round:
What about the ATL concept is most appealing to you?
AA: “The shortened format has been a real winner. It is a chance to play in a team competition that is all over in 3 weeks! It’s also a great way for the youngsters to ‘test their mettle’ against some of the more seasoned campaigners (and vice versa!)”.
Has your squad been training together and/or doing any other activities as a group in the lead up to the ATL?
AA:” We havent done anything out of the ordinary to get ready as a team for this competition. All of the players in our squad are members of the Trinity Titans Men’s State League team so we have a club training Thursday nights, occasionally grab a bite to eat after training, then play in the local competition on Saturdays”.
Who would you nominate as a player from your team as ‘one to watch’ and why?
AA: “Our number one Li Tu is slowly working his way back into form. He was a member of Australia’s Junior Davis Cup team earlier this year before having a break from tennis. He is now getting some match play and fitness under his belt and can be dangerous when on song. Also keep an eye out for our doubles specialist Mark Mullins who’s unorthodox play may catch a few youngsters off guard”.
What is the strength of your team as a whole?
AA: “Trinity’s strength is that we have deliberately chosen a squad of players that have played at the club for five years or more and we all love the club we play for. We have been a successful club in State League for a long time now and although we perhaps are not the strongest team on paper we hope our past success resonates into this elite competition”.
Who do you view as your team’s biggest threats?
AA: “On paper Glenlea look strong. Their number five player (Darren Polkinghorne) has an ATP singles ranking which just shows the depth they have. If Memorial Drive can get their full list on the court they will also be a real challenger. And of course our arch rival Broadview, with Marty Richards spearheading them, will always be around the mark”.
Are there any team sponsors you would like to mention?
AA: “We are lucky to have two very generous clubman in Steve Markey and Craig Heading who have again helped us out with sponsorship. We have extremely proud and very grateful to have Stel Communications and Cartridge World on board The Titans again this year”.
Trinity Titans hit the court this Thursday night in round one against Glenlea Sharks at 6.15pm at Memorial Drive. Entry if free and there will be a free sausage sizzle!
| Trinity Titans | AR |
| Li Tu | 74 |
| David To | N/A |
| Adam Alessandrini | N/A |
| James Ma | 141 |
| Andrew Tavella | N/A |
| Rino Traforti | N/A |
| Vlad Khodakivskyy | 689 |
| Mark Mullins | N/A |
David To in full flight
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