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| Ace of the Week |
Anneke Price from Kaikohe (above, left), and a member of Bay Tennis Club in Kerikeri, was rewarded for her participation in a Grasshoppers Mini Tournament at the ASB Classic, with a brand-new Wilson tennis Racquet. Presenting the prize was Leslie Wilkinson, Regional Development Manager for Tennis Waikato-Bays.
Among the players was ASB Classic ballkid Jade Lewis (below) daughter of former tour player, and now SEED Foundation Director David Lewis.
2008 ASB Classic finalist Aravane Rezai (below) gave the youngsters a treat when she popped in to the mini tournament, after earlier defeating Edina Gallovits (Roumania) .
For more, read here
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| SunSmart Tournament Calendar |
For the full Tennis New Zealand Tournament Calendar, click here
Heineken Open
12 - 17 January 2009
ASB Tennis Centre, Parnell, Auckland
Manawatu Senior (Veteran's) Open Tournament
2 -3 January 2009
Manawatu Lawn Tennis Club, Fitzherbert Ave, Palmerston North Wanaka Open
3 - 4 January 2009
Wanaka Tennis Club, Warren Street, Wanaka
Manawatu Junior Open
4 - 8 January 2009
Feilding Tennis Club, South Street, Feilding Wanaka Junior Open
5-6 January 2009
Wanaka Tennis Club, Warren Street, Wanaka Wellington Open featuring NZ Money Tournament 5
9-11 January 2009
The Renouf Tennis Centre, Brooklyn Rd, Brooklyn, Wellington North Otago Open
10-11 January 2009
Chelmer Street, Oamaru
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| ASB Classic - Dementieva through to final |
World number four, Elena Dementieva (above) has won through to the final of the ASB Classic tommorow.
This morning she defeated last year's finallist Aravane Rezai of France, 6-2 6-2. The usually hard-hitting Rezai had no real answers for Dementieva's classy game.
The second semi-final is currently under way, with Anne Keothavong of the UK playing Elena Vesnina from Russia. Keothavong has taken the first set 7-6.
For all the latest on the tournament, including live video streaming, visit the tournament website here
 Spotted in the TNZ Corporate box, were Heather and Matt McRandle, winners of the membership promotion competition this year. A light-hearted moment earlier in the tournament was when Danish player Caroline Wozniaki was escorted in victory from the court, by appropriately-dressed denizens of the notorious Box 24 (see our issue image, top right) Chair umpires from around the world are officiating at the Classic. In this picture below, China, India, New Zealand and the USA are represented.
Meanwhile, the back courts at the ASB Tennis Centre are being taken up by the men arriving for the Heineken Open (which begins on Monday), getting in some practise.
For all the info on the next great tournament in our Summer of Tennis, visit the Heineken Open website here
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| New Zealand Money Tournament 5 |
The Wellington Open NZMT 5 kicks off the 2009 part of the Configure Express NZMT Circuit this weekend. NZMT 5 is being held at the Renouf Tennis Centre, Wellington from Friday (9th) to Sunday (11th Jan).
Victor Romero (Mex) who is presently travelling in NZ, came as a surprise late entry. Romero is the top seed and tournament favourite with an ATP Ranking of 529.
New Zealand's Mark Nielsen (Nrthn) is second seed with an ATP Ranking of 1053. Nielsen recently had a good run in the December tournaments winning the Configure West End NZMT and runner up of the singles at Pascoes NZ Residentials.
For the full story, click here
Pacific Oceania players tour of NZ
For the past 18 years a junior team consisting of players from the Pacific Oceania region have travelled to New Zealand to compete in valuable National tournaments.
The tour is a fantastic opportunity for players to gain experience by playing high quality events and opponents, as well as to experience life in a different culture. Whilst the Pacific Oceania players train most days of the week, there is no substitute for match practice, and this end of year tour is of great value to all of the players.
The 2008 team earned their invitations through success at the ITF Pacific Oceania Junior Championships, and consisted of:
 Devin Khatri - Fiji, Christian Miller – Northern Mariana, Rafael Jones – Northern Mariana, Tarani Kamoe - Fiji, Robin Morove – PNG, Thea Minor – Northern Mariana, Annie Shannon – Fiji . ITF Regional Training Centre Head Coach Talor Wain (pictured) and Dan O'Connell were the coaches for this team. The girls were much more successsful than the boys, and the best results of our players were as follows:
Annie Shannon: R/U Girls 12 singles - Hamilton
Winner girls 12 singles - Gisborne
Winner girls 12 doubles - Gisborne
Tarani Kamoe: Winner Girls 14 Singles - Gisborne
Winner Girls 14 Doubles - Gisborne and Auckland (with Thea Minor)
Thea Minor: R/U 14 Singles - Gisborne
Winner Girls 14 Doubles - Gisborne and Auckland (with Tarani Kamoe)
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| Grasshoppers Grace Centre Court - ASB Classic |
 Twelve young Grasshoppers children got the opportunity of a lifetime to experience centre court at the ASB Classic today on the first day of competition at the county's leading women's event.
The twelve children are all participants in the Grasshoppers Tournament programme at Milford Tennis Club on Auckland's North Shore with former professional women's tennis player - Shelley Bryce (nee Stephens) their coach.
TVNZ news reader Simon Dallow welcomed the players on to the court for their taste of the big time, where they played the mini tennis format in two stages - red (beginners) and orange (advanced). The children thoroughly enjoyed their experience, as highlighted by coach Bryce.
"The children have been so excited about this day for weeks. This has been a great opportunity for them".
 The young Grasshoppers played on centre court prior to the opening match of the day, and then formed a guard of honour for the two professional players - 2008 ASB Classic Runner Up Aravane Rezai from France (left) and ASB Classic favourite Eleni Danilidou which Rezai won in three sets.
Two of the Grasshoppers children - Katie Bruce and Claire McKavanagh carried the bags for the players as they entered the main arena. |
| National Teams Event 14u |
It came down to the wire in the boys section of the National Teams Event 14u being held at Scarbro Tennis Centre in Auckland this week.
Waikato-Bays, Canterbury, Auckland and Southern all vyving for the title. Waikato-Bays had a convincing 6 - 0 win over Northern in the final round which moved them into first place. Canterbury came out firing and was able to topple Auckland 5 - 1 but still came 2 points short of Waikato-Bays to see them finish in second. Southern had a solid 4 - 2 win over Central which saw them sneak ahead of Auckland for third.
In the girls section Auckland and Canterbury where way ahead on points going into the fifth and final round. Canterbury had to win more than four matches in the tie to take out the title. On the day, it all went Auckland's way with them wrapping up a 6 - 0 win. Meanwhile Northern had the same scoreline against Central. while Waikato-Bays beat Southern 4 - 2 which saw Waikato-Bays finishing comfortably in third position.
For the full story, including great pics of all the winning teams click here. Sovereign Superstars count down the hours
With the Heineken Open fast approaching, so too is the excitement increasing for six young New Zealand tennis players as they anticipate their involvement in the Sovereign Superstars on centre court next week. Once again Sovereign is showing how much they love great sport and the fulfilling of dreams for young New Zealanders with the Sovereign Superstars event that pits three boys and three girls into a round robin competition on centre court and live on television. Sovereign Marketing Communications Manager Richard Allen explains the concept: “We wanted to provide New Zealand’s best young tennis talent with an inspirational and unique ‘money can’t buy’ experience, - a chance to sample life as a professional tennis player." The six children and parents will fly into Auckland on Sunday for a pre-tournament briefing and afternoon tea before settling into their accommodation at the Heritage Hotel, the accommodation provider for the Heineken Open players. All have qualified through their primary and intermediate school championships prior to Christmas. Christchurch’s Ben Johnston summed up their anticipation: “I am just so excited about the opportunity, it was the first time I had beaten Elliot (Ben defeated Elliot Darling in the South Island final) and can’t think of a better time to do it with the Sovereign Superstars prize up for grabs." 
2009 Sovereign Superstars
Girls
Pang Suwanapossee Christchurch
Shanni Temata Frost Palmerston North
Claudia Williams (left) Auckland Boys
Ben Johnson Christchurch
Arapeta Collier-Waiomio Hamilton
Niko Vulinovich Auckland
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| Great Numbers - Hutt Valley Xmas Tournament |
The annual Hutt News Xmas Tennis Tournament at Mitchell Park proved a real success in spite of 2 days of rain.
Junior tennis is thriving in the Hutt valley, total entries for the 4 age groups were 180 although only 2 girls in the 18s age group Meagan Brooks and Doris Berberic played the boys in fine Xmas spirit (when they were not running the catering as a fundraiser for their Atomic Tennis Melbourne trip. )
Hutt Valley players had some good matches. 10s Girls Singles and doubles was won By Lauren Beere (Lower Hutt), Although a small field, the change partner round robin doubles was a success..
Boys 10s Singles runner up was Trent Massam (Avalon) and Felix Humphries (Muritai) won the consolation. Trent was also runner up in the doubles with Joshua Snowdon-Poole.
Mel Kinsmen (Muritai) won the 12s Girls singles final from Miia Korpela (Lower Hutt), 10/7 in the super tie breaker after one set each at 4/6,6/1.
The Girls 12s Doubles was won by Miia & Mel 5/7, 6/2, stb 10/4. For more information click here.
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