TENNIS
By samuel darroch
ELEVEN of Australia’s top 20 tennis players will compete in Traralgon for the week starting Saturday at the region’s inaugural $50,000 ATP Challenger event.
The elite field of 32 announced last week features 21 internationals and a host of auspicious Aussies, including the nation’s fifth-ranked player James Duckworth, Chris Guccione, Matthew Barton and dual Traralgon Pro Tour winner Ben Mitchell.
Organisers are sweating on the fitness of 2013 Traralgon Junior International and Australian Open boys champion Nick Kyrgios, who is battling to overcome an elbow injury.
Headlining the foreign contingent is Frenchman Stephane Robert, the top-ranked player in the draw at 118, along with world number 130 Bradley Klahn (USA) and Japan’s Tatsuma Ito.
The tournament, which was upgraded this year to ATP Challenger level, will act as a final gateway for aspiring Australian Open qualifiers, with ranking points and a $35,000 increase to the prize pool on the line.
Top seed Robert made the second round at Wimbledon and the US Open this year and will be one of several pushing to break into the top 108 for direct acceptance into the Australian Open draw, which will be announced shortly after the Traralgon event.
“He has a good pedigree behind him, he came out in February and played all of our events and won a couple as well so he has a couple of good results here in Australia,” Tennis Australia tournaments coordinator Jason Simmons said.
Traralgon became the fourth stop on the ATP Challenger tour this year and Simmons is hopeful the world class field will draw bigger crowds than the township’s previous pro tour events.
“We’re really excited by the calibre of the field we have assembled for the inaugural Traralgon Tennis Challenger and look forward to a great week of tennis,” Simmons said.
“The strength of the field certainly reflects the new ATP Challenger status of the event, and the increased opportunities for players to share in a lucrative prize purse and earn world ranking points.
“The players love coming to compete in Traralgon and I know the community here is all set to welcome the players to town and to enjoy some quality tennis.”
Latrobe City Council contributed a $25,000 hosting fee to Tennis Australia in order to secure the event for Traralgon
“We think it’s a great event; it’s a real coup for Latrobe City especially because it gives us a chance to showcase our international standard facility and show the calibre of events we can hold here,” Mayor Sandy Kam said.
The Challenger event runs from Saturday through to the following Sunday.
For more information about the Australian Pro Tour, Tennis Australia or the players visit www.tennis.com.au
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TRARALGON Tennis Association will add extra spice to its ATP Challenger with a series of peripheral events to engage the community throughout the week-long event.
On Sunday a corporate pro-am style tennis challenge will be introduced, in which teams of three representing Valley businesses will be combined with a touring pro for a casual sideshow competition.
The winners will receive two tickets each to the 2014 Australian Open.
TTA manager Susie Grumley said she hoped to utilise the event as an annual fundraiser pending the success of its debut.
The pro-am will run alongside an Australian Open roadshow ‘the AO Blitz’ offering family activities and a free barbecue.
Among the attractions will be the chance to hold the Australian Open trophies, speed serve contests, Hot Shots and Twister.
The club will also host a girls’ day out and ladies luncheon next Tuesday from noon.
Entry for the tennis pro-am is $150 per team.
