13 November 2015 | Gabriella Tobias

This week I ventured up to Bendigo for the William Loud Bendigo International Pro Tour event. It takes place every November and always includes a great field of players. An all-female event, and offering $50k in prizemoney, the Bendigo Pro Tour lures many of the great Australian players  and notable Internationals as well.

While the weather seemed to surprise us all with the unexpected heat, there was some great battles on court.

I caught up with Victorian Tammi Patterson after her win over Mizuno Kijima (JPN) 2-6 6-2 6-4. It was great to see her after an injury plagued 2014/15 Summer. While the heat was rising so was her momentum and she served out the match with an ace.

Speaking to Tammi afterwards we talked about her match and her plans for summer.

Tennis Victoria: Well done out there, it was pretty hot today.

Tammi Patterson: Thank you, it was a lot hotter than expected today, it was tough conditions.

TV: Had you played Kijima before?

TP: No, never. I had no idea what to expect. She came out swinging. Winners were flying past me but I hung in there and then my winners started to go past her so it worked out well.

TV: Sitting off court I could feel it getting hotter as the match progressed, you did well to keep going.

TP: Yeah it was definitely getting hotter and more stressful as the match went on which is always a great combination.

TV: You’ve had a big few days here in Bendigo, coming through Qualies so it was great to see you keep fighting through the 3 sets.

TP: I’ve had a big few months and the last tournament is always a tough one. I think it’s more about hanging in there mentally this week, you know you’re fit but it’s just the mental side you’ve got to hold onto.

TV: Is it any easier being a home tournament here in Bendigo?

TP: I love it in Bendigo. I’ve always had great results here and it honestly does feel like a second home. I stay in a house just close to the courts in Eliza Longs apartment here. We have home cooked dinners which might be the secret to my success so far. I’ve always had good results here so it’s always great to come back to Bendigo.

TV: Do you always try and schedule the Bendigo tournament in when planning your calendar?

TP: Definitely, I get excited when it’s up on the calendar. I book the apartment and get that sorted. I look forward to it.

TV: What’s next for the summer?

TP: I don’t know. I’ve just come back to tournaments after having time off where I spent some time coaching some really great players. I played an AMT and then thought I’d see how I’d go and I made semi’s in both tournaments I played in and knocked off the No.1 seed and I thought I’ll keep going now. Then I got sick and a bit run down but I’m better now. Summer is up I the air. I know this is my last tournament, a couple of AMTs and ATL and then back into tournaments at the end of Jan.

TV: Good luck Tammi, we can’t wait to see what’s next.

TP: Thank you, we’ll see you at ATL!

 

Tammi has a big ATL season ahead where she will captain the Royal South Yarras, a strong side who will be tough to beat.

I also managed to catch up with Asia Muhammad (USA) who is playing this week in Bendigo. Asia started off strong defeating Allison Bai (AUS) then defeated last year’s semifinalist Susanne Celik (SWE). Asia told me she will be playing in our ATL South Conference with MCC Tennis and was really looking forward to it having had similar previous experience with the World Team Tennis in the USA. She was keen to join her friend Lauren Embree (USA), who was also playing in Bendigo, at the MCC. She said they were hoping to see some sights while they were in Australia, do some shopping and mainly have fun while they’re here.

The William Loud Bendigo International is now up to its 6^th edition. It’s previously been won by Alicia Molik, Sam Groth, John Millman and Casey Dellacqua. It’s been a womens event now for three years.

There are approximately 100 volunteers including ball kids helping out each day with the event which was great to see. Everyone involved was having a wonderful time interacting with the players and they were a credit to their tennis club.

The Bendigo Festival of Tennis started on the 31^st October. There has been a Silver JT event, an AMT, Primary Schools Hot Shots Tennis day, the Pro tour and then the National Wheelchair Championships rounding out the two weeks.

One of the highlights of the week was seeing the great performances of our Victorian players, in particular Tammi Patterson and rising junior Destanee Aiava who with doubles partner Olivia Tjandramulia went deep into the doubles draw coming up against fellow Aussies Jess Moore and Storm Sanders. Storm will be joining Tammi at the Royal South Yarras this ATL season as well.

It was also lovely to see Sally Peers give up some of her time to meet the children from Epsom Primary School. The children were all smartly dressed in their ANZ Tennis Hot Shots shirts and were ready for their day at the Bendigo Tennis facility. Sally had a photo with the kids and told some stories of her time on the professional tennis tour. Naming Kim Clijsters as her toughest opponent and Paris as one of her favourite places to visit, Sally gave the children a memory they’ll keep forever.

Thank you to Tammi Patterson, Asia Muhammad, Sally Peers, Storm Sanders for their time as well as Tennis Victoria’s own Andrew Reynolds who was Tournament Directing the event and Bendigo Tennis Associations Leon Retallick for their time.

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