Tennis Australia

Australian Open

The Australian Open is one of the major tennis tournaments hosted by Tennis Australia. The Australian Open is held annually in Melbourne for two weeks. Along with the US Open, French Open and Wimbledon, the Australian Open is classified as a Grand Slam. The categories of the tournament include women’s and men’s singles; men’s mixed doubles; Junior Championships; the exhibition and legends; and wheelchair events. The tournaments experience the second highest crowd in comparison to other grand slams. The Australian Open is the first grand slam tournament that launched retractable roofs over the Hisense Arena, the Margaret Court Arena, and the Rod Laver Arena. [4] [5]

The Australian Pro Tour

The Australian Pro Tour includes Pro Tour events, Australian Money Tournaments and the Asia-Pacific Tennis League that run for 36 weeks every year. The participants receive 15,105 world ranking points and the finalists share USD 111,500 in prize money. The tournaments provide opportunities for emerging tennis players to practice professional tennis as well as connect with international tennis professionals. The tournaments allow players to choose a wide range of categories including surfaces, venues, and circuits. The tournament also offers international participants an opportunity to explore the iconic areas Australia. As the tournaments are played across the nation in regional and metropolitan arenas. [6]

The Australian Open Series

Davis Cup Ties

Fed Cup

Rod Laver

Rodney George Laver, an Australian Tennis legend, and the only player in the history of tennis to hold the Grand Slam twice. Laver was born in the sunshine state of Australia and nicknamed ‘Rocket’ by his coach Harry Hopman who was a Davis Cup captain. At the age of 17, in 1956, Laver won the US Junior Championship tournament. In 1962, Laver became the only second player to win the Grand Slam and in 1969, he won the Grand Slam again. Rod Laver was ranked world number one tennis player for seven successive years from 1964 to 1970. Throughout his career, Laver won thirty-nine titles and had a winning record of about eighty percent. Laver retired from professional tennis in 1979 and was part of the International and Australian Tennis Halls of Fame between 1981 and 1993. In 2000, as a tribute to Rod Laver, the centre court in Melbourne Park was to be named after him; the Rod Laver Arena. [7]

Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Evonne Goolagong Cawley, part of Wiradjuri Aboriginal tribe, held the title of women’s world number one tennis player from 1971 to 1976. At the age of 13, Goolagong-Cawley moved to live with tennis coach Vic Edwards. In 1971, 20-year-old Goolagong-Cawley competed in Wimbledon final against Australian Tennis champion Margaret Court and won the Wimbledon title. In 1972, Evonne Goolagong Cawley was named Australian of the Year. Evonne continued to win every Australian state title and Australian singles title in 1974, 1975 and 1976 as well as more Wimbledon titles. Hence, an English Journalist nick named her as the ‘Sunshine Supergirl’. In 1991, Evonne Goolagong Cawley moved to Noosa and restored her connections with her Wiradjuri people and got involved with Aboriginal affairs. In 2018 she was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia. [8]

Singles

Doubles

Inclusion and Diversity

Tennis Australia along with its Member Associations aims to embrace diversity by making events welcoming and inclusive for everyone. It provides an environment in which people of diverse backgrounds can participate and feel comfortable. Tennis Australia organises Tennis tournaments for Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Intellectual Disability or Autism, Blind & Low Vision and Wheelchair Tennis.

Furthermore, Tennis Australia along with its Member Associations supports the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through funding and promoting Indigenous tennis programs. Moreover, Tennis Australia holds an annual National Indigenous Tennis Carnival at the Darwin International Tennis Centre in which participants of all potential aged 10-18 are able to get involved. The carnival aims to celebrates the culture, music, and food through Tennis. [9] [10]

The Newcombe Medal is one of the many awards issued by Tennis Australia annually.

The Newcombe Medal is named after Australian Tennis legend John Newcombe. The Medal is awarded to Australia’s most elite Tennis player and ambassador for Tennis. The award seeks to acknowledge the performances, achievements and contributions made by Tennis Australia’s members.

The nominees of the awards are selected by a panel appointed by Tennis Australia. The panel includes Australian Tennis champions and well respected members of the Tennis community.

Tennis Australia has been following a new nomination process since 2016. The award winners across the nations are automatically nominated for their equivalent national award. The selection panel then determines the finalists for each Tennis Australia award category. [11]

• Newcombe Medal
• Australia Davis Cup team
• Australia Fed Cup team
• Australia at the Hopman Cup

• Official website