After the success of the National Tennis League pilot competition conducted in South Australia in 2011, the nationwide rollout of the concept takes place in November 2012.
The SA-Conference of the Asia-Pacific Tennis League
With only five rounds before the SA Final on November 30th, getting off to a good start tonight will be critical to team’s aspirations to earning a top two finish and the chance to represent SA in the National Playoffs being held during the 2013 Australian Open.
Men’s
Golden Grove Lions v The Drive
- The Drive captured the prize signing of Colin Ebelthite for the ATL, arguably the best current South Australian player, and The Lion’s number one, Jack Alberton, will have his work cut out in the singles.
- The Drive have assembled a very solid outfit with Paul Kramberger, Daniel Crago and prodigious young talent Yuya Ito along with Steve Clasohm and Luke Smith offering a daunting prospect in the double.
- Nathan Ashmeade and Aeron Martinovic will take it up to The Drive in the two and three spots while Andrew Wilson has the quality to inflict damage on the scoreboard.
- The Drive should prove too strong tonight, but don’t discount The Lions getting some results in their favour.
Trinity Titans v Glenlea
- Trinity have a deliberate policy of fielding their successful and settled local league squad and this could very well get them off to a winning start tonight against a Glenlea team that could be hit with some absentees.
- Glenlea have been warm favourites going into the ATL with the likes of Saville, Kokkinakis, Ley and Schipanski, but the OS touring commitments of Saville and Kokkinakis has put a question mark over their early availability.
- With the Titans being lead out by Li Tu and names such as To, Allessandrini and Ma, back them tonight to claim a big scalp.
Broadview Tigers v Gully Subways
- The Tigers top 3 of Brad Mousley, Matt Langley and Lawrence Bataljin has the ability to match it with any team in the ATL but will face an early challenge against local rival the Gully Subway’s who have assembled an impressive squad lead by Josh Crowe, Jay Laginestra and Ryan Palfrey.
- It could well be the influence for Broadview of stalwart Martin Richards which determines the ultimate result tonight.
Women’s
Goodwood Saints v The Drive
- The Drive’s ATL team looks extremely capable, being lead out at number one by Alexandra Cannizzaro and with Melanie Clayton and Ainsley Fairhead in support, the young Saints could be placed on the back foot early.
- Leah Daw will definitely mix it with Cannizzaro, but there is a big ask of Olivia Ley and Catherine Connelly in the singles however the ATL’s short format could play in their favour though.
- With The Drive’s squad supported by Melissa Beadman and Nicki Barnet, expect The Drive to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Somerton Park Sharks v Gully Subways
- Somerton Park Sharks are a highly organised and tight knit outfit and being lead out by Elyse Edwards and the immensely talented Amy Sneath, they have every reason to have lofty ambitions in the ATL.
- The Subway’s squad contains a squad of exciting young talent and under the leadership of Nicole Collie will have the ability to match it tonight – It will be a close result, but the Sharks may just have too much bite.
Golden Grove Lions v Flagstaff Freighters
- The Freighters are stand out favourites in the SA-Conference and will be hell bent on getting early points on the board but received a small hurdle with Brit import Emily Webley-Smith in doubt after international flight issues.
- Golden Grove were hit this week with the withdrawal of Kassandra Dunser, but have an able Wild Card replacement in Katarina Hunia and the Petrov sisters will prove stiff opponents.
- There will probably be no better opportunity to catch the Freighters off-guard than in the first round, but with names such as Bobusic, Wlodarczak, Rischbieth and Lukaszewicz to compete with, the odds are still well in their favour.
Each tie involves four singles and two doubles matches over two courts and play starts at 6.15pm.
The Asia-Pacific Tennis League (ATL) 2012 SA-Conference fixture is:
| Round | Day | Date | Starts |
| Round 1 | Thursday | 8 November | 6.15 pm |
| Round 2 | Tuesday | 13 November | 6.15 pm |
| Round 3 | Thursday | 15 November | 6.15 pm |
| Round 4 | Tuesday | 20 November | 6.15 pm |
| Round 5 | Thursday | 22 November | 6.15 pm |
| FINAL | Friday | 30 November | 6.30 pm |
All matches are played at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, North Adelaide.
For further information on the Asia-Pacific Tennis League or Junior Asia-Pacific Tennis League please visit tennis.com.au/sa.
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