Anja Dokic and Zoe Hives, finalists at the 16-and-under National Claycourt Championships event at Melbourne Park.
National Clay Court Championships
Throughout the month of April players from across Australia competed in the National Clay court Championships. The 12’s and 14’s Championships were held in Ipswich Queensland while the 16’s event was held at Melbourne Park. A number of players from both the State and National Academy programs participated in the tournament and enjoyed great showings in the event.
Player Highlights:
• National Academy member Anja Dokic, made the finals in the 16’s girls singles
• National Academy member Madison Inglis, made the semi-finals of the 16’s girls singles and finished 3rd
• Tristan Schoolkate made the semi-finals of 12’s singles and doubles finishing 4th
• Tsige Lacey qualified in the 12’s girls singles and finished 20th
• Sarah Sticic finished 15th in the 14’s girls singles
National Academy Update
The National Academy – Perth has had a number of significant results recently at tournaments. Anja Dokic made the R16 of singles at a 10k pro event in Sydney and into the doubles finals with Jess Moore. Dokic also won the Victorian ITF girls doubles and was a finalist at the Gallipoli Youth Cup ITF. Maddison Inglis (Maida Vale, WA) won her first ITF junior singles title when she defeated good friend, Sasha Bollweg (Richmond, VIC) in the final of the Victorian Junior Claycourt International at the Dendy Park Tennis Club in Brighton East in Melbourne.
Inglis, currently ranked 443rd on the ITF world junior rankings and 74th on the Australian Rankings, won the Grade 4 title 6-1 7-6(4) in 1 hour and 47 minutes, in her second career ITF junior final after reaching the decider of the Grade 3 New Zealand 18-and-under Summer Championships in Auckland in February. Inglis was also a doubles finalist at the Victorian ITF.
Maddison Inglis won her first ITF junior singles title at the Victorian Junior Claycourt International
State Update
Mats Niklasson won the 14’s boys division at Hensman
Gurkawal Kaur Bajaj won 16’s girls division Hensman
Nadia Rajan won the girl’s 12’s division at Hensman
Megan Kauffman qualified at the Gallipoli Youth Cup ITF event
Talent Development
Some of Australia’s most promising junior tennis players have been selected for the inaugural National Talent Development Camp in Canberra in June.
Considered to be amongst the top players nationwide in the 10/u age group, a select few from every state and territory will be attending the premier sport training institute to participate in a unique training and competitive experience for future development. From WA Brody Schoolkate and Lauren Nikoloski were selected to attend this 10/u National Development camp.
Lauren Nikoloski was selected as a participant in Jofre Porta’s coaching presentation at the State Tennis Centre in April
Pro Update
Matt Ebden represented Australia in the Davis Cup partnering with Llyeton Hewitt in the doubles and helped seal Australia’s victory with a gutsy five-set win over Uzebekistan. The pair defeated Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4 3-6 6-3 on clay in Namangan. Ebden paid tribute to Hewitt after the match, saying the veteran helped to inspire him in the deciding set. Hewitt felt the decision to miss the opening singles had worked out perfectly and said Australia would also benefit from keeping Istomin and Dustov on court for almost four hours.
Hewitt and Ebden prevail in doubles rubber
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