23 November 2014 | Tennis Victoria

The 2014 Asia-Pacific Tennis League’s South East Conference kicks off this Friday night with the Men’s teams playing at Dingley TC and the Women’s teams playing at Frankston TC. And, on Sunday, both the Men’s and Women’s teams head to Yarrawonga to play in the afternoon on the grass courts at Yarrawonga LTC.

The league is a whirlwind 3 week carnival of quality level tennis from 28 November to 14 December, giving local tennis communities the chance to watch current and former Davis Cup and Fed Cup players and some of Victoria’s and Australia’s brightest young talent.

The ATL is in its third year, and is transforming competition tennis with its shortened first to four games format, no let, sudden death deuce, and short first to 5 points tie breaks. It is providing buzz, unpredictability and genuine excitement for players and spectators alike.

Current Australian Fed Cup player Bayside Thunder’s Storm Sanders cannot wait for the action to begin, “I think the ATL concept is great. Tennis is such an individual sport so it’s an awesome experience to be able to play and compete as a team. The shortened format makes it anybody’s game, so it’s very exciting not only for the players but also for the spectators. This year I am playing for the Williamstown Bayside Thunder in the South East Conference. The Conference is quite strong with all the teams having good depth, so I think it will be close. We have a strong team at Bayside Thunder and I really think we can do well, but it’s a shortened format, and playing for a team, so anything can happen!”

Sam Groth, current Australian Davis Cup player and with an ATP current world ranking of 75, headlines the men’s competition. He is the Dingley Dingoes boom off season recruit as they look to go one better in 2014 after losing to the Kooyong Classics in last year’s final.Sam commented “I’m excited to play ATL and always enjoy the team atmosphere, we have a good team. I’ve won it before with James Lemke and Joe Sirianni brings a great level of experience. It’s a great opportunity to play in Victoria and give the fans a chance to see some great tennis and I’m especially excited to play our first home match at Dingley and also in Yarrawonga, up on the Murray, close to where I grew up and played many junior tournaments when I was young.”

Super Round 1 – Friday 28 November

Men

Host Club: Dingley Dingoes – Dingley TC, Rowans Road, Dingley – 6.30pm start

Women

Host Club: Frankston Firebirds – Frankston TC, Cnr Yuille St & Hastings Rd, Frankston – 7pm start

Super Round 2 – Sunday 30 November

Combined Men & Women:

Host Club: Yarrawonga Lawn Tennis Club – 12.45pm start