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| 'Tennis Ace of the Week' |
Ace of the ASB Classic
Graham Windross, joint CEO of Zealandia is the prime mover behind the support that his company has given the ASB Classic (see main story, left). Zealandia is New Zealand's biggest wholesale nursery company.
Graham is an astute man, with all his priorities in the right place, we reckon. "I love all sport, and the outdoors, and avoid getting in an office wherever possible," he says.
TV3 News ran this great profile of Graham on the day of the ASB Clasic announcement. Click here to read.
Pre-loved tennis balls in designer afterlife
What are those strange objects in our issue image this week (top right)?
They're benches made fom wire and old tennis balls - apparently they're very comfortable - and are the brainchild of creative Dutch designers Tejo Remy and Rene VeenHuizen.
So while many museum-goers observe works of art perched on the usual hard old wooden benches, visitors at Rotterdam's Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen have a whole new backside experience.
The designers of the benches say the same qualities that make tennis balls bright, bouncy and easy-to-see, make for "seating that is comfortable, sturdy and eye-catching" (!)
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Each week TennisNZ is looking for a player, coach, volunteer or club to star as the tennis 'Ace of the Week'
If you know of someone who is a great ambassador to tennis in New Zealand, or just have a humorous tennis story to tell, and would like to become a part of TennisNZ's weekly 'Passing Shots' then we would love to hear about it.
Email your story and pictures to info@tennisnz.com |
| Sunsmart Tournament Calendar |
New Zealand calendar of events 2008 is now available online. Click here to read more.
ROLAND GARROS - FRENCH OPENMay 25 - June 8
Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France
Queen's Birthday Senior Teams TournamentMay 31-June 2
Edgar Sports Centre, Dunedin
WIMBLEDONJune 23-July 6
All England Tennis & Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England
12's Optus Winter NationalsJune 28-July 4
Brisbane
14's Optus Winter NationalsJune 29-July 4
Brisbane
Manawatu OpenJuly 5-7
Manawatu Lawn Tennis Club, Palmerston North
Hutt Valley Winter OpenJuly 5-9
Mitchell Park, Lower Hutt
WBOP Junior July TournamentJuly 6-10
Bay Trust Tennis Centre, Papamoa
Sth Island Indoor Junior ChampsJuly 7-8
Edgar Sports Centre, Dunedin
ITF NZ 18/u Indoor Championship
July 7-13
Scarbro Tennis Centre, Auckland
National Indoors 14/u
July 10-13
Scenic Circles Hotel Tennis Centre, Christchurch |
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| Great boosts for ASB Classic |
A new era in women’s professional sport in New Zealand has begun with the announcement that the ASB Classic will be part of the new look 55-tournament Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar in 2009 and beyond. Not only will the event have a new tournament director in Brenda Perry, but there will be an increase in prizemoney (total purse up from US$145,000 to US$225,000), as well as new rulings which allow better player accessibility - plus the future of the tournament has been secured, with significant financial support from Zealandia.
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| Peter Lumsden joins Peak Performance team |
 Tennis New Zealand is delighted to announce that Peter Lumsden has been appointed to the position of Peak Performance Manager – Women’s. Lumsden, an experienced coach, project manager and educator will take up the part-time role in mid-June. The role will be based at the Tennis NZ office in Auckland during the peak summer period, when the majority of players are in the country, and will also divide time between his other roles with Tennis Australia and Tennis Victoria.
For the full story, click here |
| Marina's winning start to grass court campaign |
 Marina Erakovic (left) has recorded her second win on the grass courts of Surbiton, UK, beating Melinda Czink of Hungary and now moves on to the quarter finals of the $50,000 tournament.
Erakovic had to grind out two long sets each going to tie breaks, eventually triumphing 7-6(6) 7-6(5).
Erakovic will now face Australian Monique Adamczak who is currently ranked 170 in the world. She has encountered Erakovic on four previous occasions, with the Kiwi being the victor every time.
Across the Atlantic, Daniel King-Turner knocked out the third seed Amer Delic (USA) who is ranked 149 in the world at the $50,000 Sunset Moulding Challenger in California.
The kiwi took the match 6-3 6-3 to advance into the second round, but then lost to Michael Yani (USA) 6-2 6-4.
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| Te Puke supporters rate a special mention |
We ran a story last week on the boys team from Te Puke taking off on an inspirational trip to the Pat Cash Tennis Academy in Australia.
We should thank all the supporters who have helped make this great trip possible - Travelcom Te Puke, Sportsworld Te Puke, Pak’n Save Tauranga, and Martian Design.
Also, the trip's organiser, Heath Ingham, would like to offer "huge thanks" for an art auction they are doing, to Kate Jones Madill, Frank Vosper and Grant Fox, who are all contributing to the event.
Junior Cantabrian wins in Barcelona
 Leela Beattie of Canterbury (left) has defeated local player Clara Matais 6-2 5-7 6-4 in the quarter finals of the Circuit Absolut FCT Event in Barcelona, Spain.
Once again Beattie had a great start to her match taking the opening set decisively 6-2. In the second, Matias took an early lead 3-1 and then 5-3. Beattie fought hard to get back to 5 games a piece and after having tow break points, went down 5-7.
In the third set both players traded games until 4-4 with Beattie playing some aggressive returns and serving consistently to close out the match 6-4. Beattie will now play her semi final match against Montserrat Blasco (ESP) who defeated New Zealand’s Christine Foote in the round of 16. |
| Tennis Umpires AGM, Special General Meeting |
The NZ Tennis Umpires Association will be holding its AGM on Saturday 14 June at the Scarbro Tennis Centre Glen Innes, Auckland at 1pm. The meeting will be preceeded by a Special General Meeting to approve the new NZTUA Constitution, at the same venue at 10am.
Tennis Coaches AGM by teleconference
The 2008 AGM of Tennis Coaches NZ will be done by conference call at 8pm on Monday 23 June. Please register with Jenny Preston by Monday 16 June via email at info@tcnz.org.nz or jenny@tcnz.org.nz
Peter Fletcher - a great loss to tennis
 (From the Remuera Rackets Club website)
"It is with sadness that we have to pass on the news that Peter Fletcher, the former RRC tennis professional and more recently the Parnell Tennis Club professional has died.
"The club extends their condolences to Peter’s family and the Parnell Tennis Club. "We have been informed that the funeral will be held this Saturday at 11am at St Michael’s Church on Remuera Road, followed by the aftermatch at Parnell Tennis Club.
Coaches Tour of Spain in September
 Tennis NZ is offering up to 10 coaches the opportunity to travel to Spain with National Coaching Director Peter McCraw on a 10-day tour in September. They will visit five tennis academies and complete the Registry of Professional tennis thre-day 'Integral Course', covering Mini-Tennis, Junior Development, Adult Tennis, and an overview of Spanish Player Development philosophy. For more details, click here.
Winter Workshops for Coaches
Tennis Coaches NZ is presenting a series of Winter Workshops by National Director of Coaching Peter McCraw, at Auckland 19-20 July, Wellington 26-27 July and Christchurch 2-3 August. This is a great opportunity to up-skill at a convenient time. For all the details, click here. |
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