43 South Australian athletes will venture to Melbourne Park for the Australian Nationals and Australian Open Wildcard Playoff in what is affectionately known as the ‘December Showdown’ between December 6–21 2014.
The showdown begins with the 18s Australian Nationals. The winner of this event will earn a Wildcard into the Australian Open Qualifying held in January. The 16-athlete main draw field sees many of our best athletes come together in a round robin format. The winner of this event also provides the female and male athlete with a spot in the AO Wildcard playoff held during the 2nd week of the Showdown. South Australia is well represented in the girls with three athletes in the main draw and two athletes in qualifying. Lawrence Bataljin is the sole representative in the 18s Boys Main Draw.
18s Australian Championship
Main Draw – Girls
Petra Hule
Chloe Hule
Nicole Kraemer
Qualifying – Girls
Claudia May
Brooke Milner
Main Draw – Boys
Lawrence Bataljin
In conjunction with the 18s Australian Championship is the 14s Australian Championship. The 14s Nationals with a draw size of 64 sees South Australia with eight boys and six girls in the draw. Stefan Norodom is the top seed for the boy’s event with Sean Van Rensburg seeded two and Sam May also within the top 8 direct entries. In the girls event Selina Turulja is SA’s highest direct entrant at 8.
14’s Australian Championship
Main Draw – Girls
Madison Bishop
Tiana Glazbrook
Yasmin Glazbrook
Amber Marshall
Selina Turulja
Tahlia Van Der Eerden
Main Draw Boys
David Ablfalter
Stefan Gilgorov
Josh Laka
Ethan Lawson
Dale Nixon
Stefan Norodom
Sam May
Sean Van Rensburg
There is no rest for some of 14’s athletes as the 12s & 14s teams event begins after the 14s Nationals. South Australia goes into the 14s teams event as the number 1 and 2 seeded teams respectively in the boys and girls event. In the 12s teams event SA’s depth in the girls is highlighted with a second SA team invited by Tennis Australia. The team’s events highlight the strong depth of SA currently in the 12s and 14s. Listed below are the teams and coaches for the team’s events.
Mary Hawton Trophy (Girls 14s)
Jeanette Lin
Amber Marshall
Selina Turulja
Coach – Rohan Fisher & Ben Milner
Sproule Stephens Trophy (Boys 14s)
Sam May
Stefan Norodom
Sean Van Rensburg
Coach – Milo Bradley
Margaret Court Cup (Girls 12s – Team 1)
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz
Alana Repanich
Natasha Russell
Coach – Joel Kerley & Ben Milner
Margaret Court Cup (Girls 12s – Team 2)
Leonora Radocaj
Tully Richter
Kara Tscharke
Coach – Brett McLennan
Rod Laver Cup (Boys 12s)
Jasper Benson
Patrick Douglas
Terry Karahalios
Upon the completion of the teams event the 12s & 16s Australian Championship begins for the juniors and the Australian Open Wildcard begins for our WTA and ATP ranked players outside those that have earned direct entry into the Australian Open through their ranking.
In the 12s Nationals South Australia is well represented with 15 athletes competing.
12s Australian Championship
Main Draw Boys
Stefan Blanchet
Jasper Benson
Patrick Douglas
Callum Gale
Luke Mascione
Edwatd Vo
Main Draw Girls
Sophie Faull
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz
Maggie Pearce
Leonora Radocaj
Alana Repanich
Tully Richter
Natasha Russell
Kara Tscharke
Holly Weatherall
Those athletes competing in the 16s Australian Championship are playing for a main draw Wildcard into the Australian Open Juniors. Petra Hule and Nicole Kraemer will enter the girl’s event as the top 2 seeds respectively.
16s Australian Championship
Main Draw Girls
Petra Hule
Nicole Kraemer
Amber Marshall
Brooke Milner
Selina Turulja
Qualifying Girls
Mimi Ahern-Briggs
Evana Bowell
Nikki Milner
Isabella Ryles
Main Draw Boys
Stefan Norodom
Qualifying Boys
Jonathan Babich
Mislav Bosnjak
The pinnacle of the December Showdown is the Australian Open Wildcard Play Off. The winner of the Woman and Men’s event gains a Main Draw into the 2015 Australia Open. Luke Saville and Alex Bolt will represent South Australia in the Men’s event. In the woman’s events no South Australians females are in the draw. Jessica Moore who trains in the SA environment will compete in the Women’s Play Off event.
It is wonderful two weeks of tennis at the Home of the Australian Open and we wish all South Australians the very best.
Latest
SA