The Shaw Park Tennis Centre is happy to be a part of the Australia Pacific Tennis League (ATL). The ATL is an exciting initiative from Tennis Australia that is able to bring a Professional level of tennis to Queensland.
The Shaw Park Sharks are the home team of the Shaw Park Tennis Centre.
What is the ATL?
The ATL is able to combine the best elements of tennis all at once. A team feeling, shortened matches, live music, ball boys, action and Pro Tennis to your local club. The conference rounds in November will provide the best spectacle of team tennis ever witnessed in Queensland. The ATL is a revolution in the sport that took Queensland tennis by storm in its inaugural season in 2012. It will return bigger and better in November this year. With modified rules, a shortened format and some of the finest Queensland players all taking to the court at the one venue, each round of tennis displays the best the game has to offer. Only six exclusive teams across South East Queensland are confirmed to compete, bringing a caliber never before seen in a Queensland mixed tennis league.
The ATL has its own comprehensive website with all the latest news and scores of the best Pro Tennis League in Australia. Click here to see the news: http://atl.tennis.com.au/
The ATL has enticed Australia’s champion players to compete for a huge share of prizemoney, points and team victory. Brisbane’s favourite son and tennis legend, Pat Rafter, made an appearance at the Sunshine Coast ATL match on Sunday 10 November in 2013. Rafter is a two time US Open Champion and current Davis Cup Captain of Australia.
Meet the Shaw Park Shark Team
The Shaw Park Sharks are the current Womens Champs and Mens Finalists. The Sharks have a fantastic record in the ATL over the past two season winning the Women’s Queensland Competition two years in a row, and going on to represent Queensland at the Australian Open in 2013 and 2014.
Shaw Park Shark Women
Congratulations to the Shaw Park Women’s Team who were the 2012 and 2013 QLD Conference Champions. The Sharks are back stronger than ever this year in an effort to defend their title.
The Shark Team is lead by experienced circuit players Ashling Sumner and Rachael Tredoux, currently #8 & #9 in QLD, and have been Australia’s leading women over the past two years with world rankings as high as #600. The remainder of the team is made up of Australia’s best junior talent. With Lizette Cabrera and Priscilla Hon, who have been representing Australia in Junior World Team tennis.
Naithka Bains at 15 years of age is a new addition to the Sharks line up and has a WTA ranking of #945. Naithka defeated her first top 100 world ranked adult player in January of 2014. Lyann Hoang, QLD #7, Australian #31, Brianna Thompson, 140 in Australia and Chelsea Te Tai, former New Zealand #8, are the final members of the Shark team.
Shaw Park Shark Men
The Shaw Park Shark Men’s Team has a unique blend of personalities & ages. Paul Hanley (absent tonight) our most experienced Shark player was a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Winner, Senior Davis Cup player and former world # 6. Steve De Waard is the team captain. Steve is #18 in QLD, # 65 in Australia and has a world ranking of #1035. Logan Mackenzie who lives on the Gold Coast and is currently the #7 men’s player in New Zealand and has a world ranking of #1451.
Two of the Shark team members played together this year in the US Open when Paul teamed up with JP Smith to reach the 3rd round.
Akira Santillan and Oliver Anderson were able to get their first men’s world ranking earlier this year after representing Australia in the Junior Davis Cup. Earlier in the year, both players were able to act as Roger Federer’s hitting partner in Melbourne. Joel Hunter, #140 in Australia and Shaw Park Coach Gareth Keating will round out the men’s team in 2013.
The team cannot survive without local sponsors. The Shaw Park Sharks are very lucky to have two fantastic sponsors in the Asics, and the Clayfield Day and Night Pharmacy. For the past two years these local businesses have supported our players and been able to bring professional tennis to Shaw Park. Thank you.
Shaw Park Sharks News
Click here to read about the Sharks becoming the Champion Pro Women’s Team in Queensland.
http://acelandtennis.com.au/news/314-sharks-young-and-old-contribute-to-queensland-atl-title.html
The Australian Open Playoffs! For an interview with one of the team captains, Ashling Sumner, see the You Tube Video below .
A round up of the Shaw Park Sharks Men’s Final in 2013 can be found in this article.
http://acelandtennis.com.au/news/245-no-certainties-in-loaded-queensland-atl-field.html