18 November 2014 | Tennis West

The Asia-Pacific Tennis League South West Conference is shaping up to be a star-studded affair with one of Australia’s leading players, Matthew Ebden set to headline the Mt Lawley Mavericks, in their first game of the season on Sunday 23 November. The former world number 61 will be joined by Brydan Klein, the former Australian-turned-British player, with a Junior Australian Open Championship under his belt and a career high ranking of 174. Klein is currently looking for a return to the Grand Slams, after recently claiming the 2014 Tennis Woolongong Centenary International Futures at Beaton Park.

The Mavericks will take on the Hensman Heat, who not only have the home-court advantage, but a strong line-up, including the 2014 WA Men’s State League MVP Zach Itzstein and 16-year old rising star Scott Jones.

Once the local fixture is complete, both Men’s teams will journey to South Australia on November 28 to take on the South Australian Teams – The Drive and NETA Knights.

In a major coup, The Drive have recently announced that rising star Thanasi Kokkinakis will headline their team, making for some thrilling tennis action against the WA Boys. After his break at the US Open, Kokkinakis has rocketed up the world ranking this year to currently sit at number 154.

In the Women’s Competition, last year’s WA winners, the Midland Mad Dogs will take on the City Beach Slammers on their home turf on Sunday. The Mad Dogs have a formidable local line-up including young guns Teiwa Casey and Junior Fed Cup team member Maddison Inglis, who has had an impressive few months after reaching the quarter finals at the Margaret River Tennis International Pro Tour Event, and travelling to Korea to compete in ITF Junior Tournaments.
However, the Slammers are equipped to give the Mad Dog youngsters a run for their money, with an imposing field of players including Anja Dokic, Marissa Gianotti, Katy O’Shea and Brittany Sheed.

Once the local fixture is complete, the three South Australian Women’s teams, the Trinity Titans, the Flagstaff Freighters and The Drive, will make their way to Perth to compete in the first Home-Exchange round commencing on Friday 28 November.

The ATL is a unique, fast-paced and innovative league played across Australia. The league comprises four Australian conferences – North, North East, South East and South West – each offering both a men’s and women’s league. Each conference has between four and six teams, with all matches being held between the 21st November and the 5th December 2014.

The winning team from each conference is offered the opportunity to compete at the ATL Playoffs. Wildcard positions will also be offered to New Zealand, the Pacific Oceania region and Asia. The ATL Playoffs will be held on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 January on the outside courts at the Australian Open.

The top four teams decided on day one of competition, play-off for positions one to four on day two, with the remaining teams playing off for either equal fifth or equal seventh. The ATL Playoffs offer $110,000 in prize money, with prize money paid to every team based on their finishing position.
In WA, the ATL season kicks off on Sunday November 23, with the Men’s Competition taking place at Hensman Park Tennis Club from 2pm. The Women’s Competition will be hosted at City Beach Tennis Club, with play commencing at 12pm.

For all fixtures, please click here

For further information on the Asia Pacific Tennis League, please visit the ATL Website.

For Media Enquiries
Loretta Hughes, Tennis West, Tournaments & Competitions Manager (08) 6462 8308
Elle Mazza, Tennis West, Marketing & Community Engagement Manager, (08) 6462 8303