Over the past month competition has been fierce between Asia-Pacific Tennis League teams as they inch closer to a share in $20,000 prize money and the chance to be crowned the 2013 Champions at the ATL finals scheduled this Friday night at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre.
Held in each state throughout November, the ATL comprises 26 men’s and 27 ladies teams nationally. The winning team from each state will be joined at the ATL Play-offs at the Australian Open in January by wildcard entrants from New Zealand, the Pacific-Oceania region, Korea and Japan all vying for a share of $110,000 in prize money.
The league has attracted Australia’s top rising stars as well as some of the greats of the game including Pat Rafter (playing for Sunshine Coast Breakers – QLD). Rafter is joined throughout the ATL season by a host of famous faces including Wally Masur and Sandon Stolle, who will line up for the Stanmore Wyverns (NSW/ACT), Peter Luczak for the MCC Stars (Vic) and Richard Fromberg for the Tennis World Taipans (Vic).
In the women’s competition, Casey Dellacqua is set to appear for Stanmore Wyverns (NSW) to round out a successful year on tour.
Also hitting the courts will be some of Australia’s top up-and-coming talent, who will use the ATL season as part of their final preparations for the all-important summer, including Australian Open 2013 junior champion Nick Kyrgios (Canberra Velocity, NSW/ACT), Thanasi Kokkinakis (Glenlea Gators, SA) and two-time junior Grand Slam winner Luke Saville (Tennis World Taipans, Vic).
In South Australia, the Flagstaff Freighters are looking to defend their Asia Pacific Tennis League Conference crown when they take on the Tea Tree Gully Timberwolves at Memorial Drive this Friday night. The Freighters will be led by 18 year old world number 238 Viktorija Rajicic and 23 year old Western Australian Jess Moore who is working her way back up the WTA rankings after a year off with injury. Flagstaff have made their way to the final without dropping a tie but were most troubled by the Timberwolves in round four when they dropped two rubbers.
Tea Tree Gully know they are coming in as the David against Goliath in this battle and will need to bring their A-Game to secure their singles rubbers. Timber wolf Chloe Hule, who won an ITF Junior event in September is the strongest player in the line up but will potentially play at a lower singles position to get the Timberwolves an early rubber win. Nicole Kraemer and Claudia May who have had outstanding ATL seasons for Tea Tree Gully will need to be at their best to match the depth of the Freighters who have three WTA ranked player in their line up.
In the men’s the Trinity Titans are looking to win their first ATL title after making the finals in 2011 and narrowly missing the finals last year. The Titans recruited heavily for the 2013 season by adding touring players Colin Ebelthite and Darren Polkinghorne to their list. Ebelthite and Polkinghorne have only lost one singles rubber between them and will provide tough match ups for the Drive’s top two players Paul Kramberger and Japanese rising star Yuya Ito. Kramberger and Ito both went down in three sets to their respective number in the round one match against the Titans which ended in a two all draw due to a rain out.
The Drive will be looking to level the singles rubbers at two all and will rely heavily on their doubles match ups where The Drive’s team captain and doubles player Luke Smith will need to get the match ups right to upset the Titans who are slightly favoured going into the match due to their depth.
In South Australia – strong competitive tennis has been demonstrated throughout the event by:
– Chloe Hule and Petra Hule – sisters who are both in the SA National Academy Program. Chloe is 16 and won and International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior title in September. Petra is 14 and they are leading players in their age group nationally.
– Viktorija Rajicic– Flagstaff Freighters – 18 year old world ranked 238, she is one of the leading juniors in Australia and is moving up the ranks very quickly.
– Jess Moore – Flagstaff Freighters – On the comeback trail after a career high ranking of 125, is from Perth WA and is working with the SA National coaches throughout November.
– Leah Daw – Trinity Titans – Won her first ITF Double title in September in Turkey with Nicole Collie, is the highest ranked South Australian player.
– Yuya Ito – The Drive – Japanese player training with Peter and Luke Smith. Big future, only 15 years old.
– Colin Ebelthite – Trinity Titans – Touring player who has a career high of 209. Played Aussie Open and is currently top 100 in the world in doubles.
– Darren Polkinghorne – Trinity –ATP ranked 20 year old from Port Lincoln who travelled internationally this year.
– Jack Schipanksi – Glenlea – ATP ranked 19 year old South Aussie who has toured internationally throughout 2013.
– Amber Marshall – Goodwood Saints – at 12 is the youngest player in the SA competition. Has represented Australia in Italy this year.
– Luke Smith – The Drive – former US college tennis star
Gates will be open to Memorial Drive Tennis Centre on Friday 29 November to watch the finals unfold and find out who is crowned the 2013 Asia-Pacific Tennis League Champions and takes home a share in the $6,000 00prize money.
A spot in the National Asia Pacific Tennis League Final held in Melbourne during the Australian Open awaits the winners along with the $6,000 winner’s cheque for winning the ATL SA conference.
Finals details
| Date | Friday 29 November 2013 |
| Venue | Memorial Drive Tennis Centre (centre courts) War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide |
| Time | 6:30pm |
| Car parking | FREE parking available at Torrens Parade Ground |
| BBQ | FREE |
| Entry | FREE |
Finals Draw
| Womens | ||
|
Flagstaff Freighters |
V |
Tea Tree Gully Timberwolves |
| Mens | ||
|
Trinity Titans |
V |
The Drive |
Prior to the ATL, South Australia’s best 10/U players will be playing for the 2013 Super 10’s titles whilst Adelaide Metro Tennis Associations will also battle in the Junior ATL finals starting from 2:30pm.
Plus, tennis fans are invited to feel like a Grand Slam Champion and have their photo taken with the real Australian Open trophies the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup and Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in town especially for the finals!
Happy hour will be offered from 6.00pm – 7.00pm.
ATL games are designed to be a fast-paced competition that features four-game sets, no-ad scoring, no service lets and a range of other innovative concepts designed to make all matches exciting for players and fans.
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For further media information and high resolution photos please contact
Clare Chapman, Marketing and Communications, 0412 484 453
Ty Allen, ATL SA-Conference Director, 08 7224 8100
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