22 January 2013 | Tennis Victoria

The Quarter Finals of the ATL Playoffs commenced today at Melbourne Park where Victoria was well represented. Taking on the rest of the Australian conferences as well as representatives from New Zealand and Pacific Oceania the Victorian teams had their work cut out for them.

First up the Kooyong Classics women’s team took on the New Zealand Tuis in a hard fought out match.  Unfortunately for the Classics the Tuis were too strong defeating them 5-1.  Led by Paige Hourigan, the Tuis marched into the Semi Finals of the ATL Women’s draw where they will take on the Asia-Pacific Tennis Institute Steelers from NSW.

In the Men’s draw it was an all Victorian affair with the ATL Victorian Conference winners, the Liston Seagulls, taking on cross town rivals the Kooyong Classics.  The Classics qualified through to the Playoffs after injury struck the team representing Asia.

The afternoon heat wasn’t enough to hold back the Seagulls from repeating the ATL Victorian Conference final result, winning the singles matches 4-0.  As the winner had then been decided the doubles matches were not played.  The Liston Seagulls will go through to the Semi Finals where they will meet the Tennis Brisbane Chargers from 5pm.  The likely matchup between the Seagulls’ Sam Groth and the Chargers’ John Millman is sure to be an amazing contest.

The ATL Playoffs will continue on Wednesday 23 January at Melbourne Park with the winner decided on Thursday 24 January evening.  Victorians are encouraged to come along and support your local teams and local players.  Access to the courts is available by purchasing a ground pass ticket from Ticketek.

Full results from the Victorian Matches are as follows:

Men’s Draw:

Samuel Groth (Liston Seagulls) def Andrew Whittingon (Kooyong Classics) 3-4 4-2 4-1

Matt Reid (Liston Seagulls) def Daniel Byrnes (Kooyong Classics) 4-1 4-2

Rubin Statham (Liston Seagulls) def David Bidmeade (Kooyong Classics) 4-1 4-2

James Lemke (Liston Seagulls) def Mitchell Burman (Kooyong Classics) 4-1 4-2

Women’s Draw:

Paige Hourigan (New Zealand Tuis) def Sally Peers (Kooyong Classics) 4-1 4-2

Belinda Woolcock (Kooyong Classics) def Emma Hayman (New Zealand Tuis) 4-3 4-2

Abigail Guthrie (New Zealand Tuis) def Michaela Johansson (Kooyong Classics) 4-0 4-1

Claudia Williams (New Zealand Tuis) def Molly Polak (Kooyong Classics) 4- 2 4- 2

Hourigan/ Fanning (New Zealand Tuis) def Peers / Woolcock (Kooyong Classics) 1-4 4-2 10-8

Hayman / Guthrie (NewZealand Tuis) def Antosik/McNamara (Kooyong Classic) 4-1 4-0