23 November 2015 | Tennis Victoria

Park Orchards’ Aaron Addison and Rowville’s Alana Parnaby have out-played some of Australia’s best tennis stars to give themselves a shot at winning a wildcard into the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open 2016.

The pair defeated 2015 Australian Open Boys’ Doubles Champion Marc Polmans and multiple ITF doubles winner Storm Sanders in the qualifying final on Sunday, with the match going down to a third set tie breaker 4-2 1-4 5-1.

Addison and Parnaby will now face off against other state and territory winners at the 2015 Medibank Win A Wildcard final at Melbourne Park on December 20.

Playing the shortened FAST4 format, 24 A Grade pairs took to the courts at Boroondara Tennis Centre in Melbourne’s north in the hope of progressing through to the national final.

Mark Stokes (Werribee) and Catherine Grant (Wyndhamvale) took out the B grade competition and will play in the B grade final against the other state and territory winners on Saturday 30 January at the Australian Open 2016.

TV: How are you both feeling after what has been a big but exciting day?

AP: Tired, but really excited. It was a really fun morning, lots of quick sets but I’m excited to be one step closer to getting a wild card into main draw in the Australian Open.

TV: It’s huge!

AA: It’s a huge achievement, we sort of had fun with it this morning, didn’t have many expectations, we played a lot of sets, had a lot of fun and just managed to be on top at the end.

TV: When did you decide to pair up?

AP: Funny you say that, he hassled me about a month ago but I wasn’t sure if I’d be here for it so I was holding him off.

TV: Treat them mean keep them keen?

AA: Yeah, I just kept pestering her and eventually she folded.

TV: You both started out at Waverley Tennis together?

AA: We did squads in under 10s, inter-regional teams challenges.
AP: We played mixed doubles back in Under 12s so maybe that came back to help us.
AA: It was a long time ago.

TV: When would have been the last time you played together properly?

AA: It’s got to be at least 6-7 years ago. Today we just really clicked, we worked together well on the court.

TV: The under 12s came back!

AA:  It’s like riding a bike, you just don’t forget.
AP: Thankfully our serves have improved since Under 12s, I think that’s what really helped us today, we both served really well. Aaron didn’t get broken the whole day.

TV: What’s the plan now leading up to December 20?

AA: We haven’t had a chance to think about that, we went straight into our ATL matches this afternoon. We’ll just play a few practice matches, we’ll go out and do the same thing on December 20, just go out and have some fun, not put any expectations on it and hopefully we can do pretty well.

TV: From what I’m hearing that’s the best way to be. Get out there have a go and you could be playing against Martina Hingis, who knows!

AA/AP: exactly, who knows!

TV: Can you even imagine what that would be like, walking out on court in the Australian Open!

AP: I don’t think that I’d be able to hit a ball.
AA: I think Alana would be done.
AP:  I could not get a return in.
AA: I was hitting with Hingis at this year’s Australian Open and even that was terrifying and that’s not even a match.
AP: So all shots, he’ll be taking, I’ll just stand on the side of the court.
AA: Definitely one step at a time, if we happen to get there that’s an awesome achievement.
AP: If you’re going to do it, that’s who you’d want to play. Sam and Masa (last year’s WAWC winners and fellow Victorians) got to do it last year and I think if you’re going to get into main draw, that’s who you’d want to play.
AA: You want to play against the big names that’s for sure.

TV: Well that’s awesome guys, good luck for the next few weeks and all of Tennis Victoria is behind you!

AP: Go Team Vic