A 12-member group will signify Australia on the 2024 Virtus World Tennis Championships in France.
Gold Coast, Australia, 3 September 2024 | tennis.com.au
Australia’s prime tennis gamers with an mental impairment (PWII) journey to France this week for the Virtus World Tennis Championships.
The occasion, which supplies a possibility for the world’s PWII finest gamers to compete on the highest stage, is held in Annecy from 7-15 September.
Queensland’s Archie Graham leads the 12-person Australian group.
The 31-year-old gained 4 medals (one gold and three silver) final yr on the Virtus International Video games and in addition claimed the boys’s singles and doubles titles on the Australian Open 2024 PWII Championships.
“Profitable a gold medal means a lot,” stated Graham, the world No.1 within the II-1 class.
“There’s nothing greater than representing Australia, your nation, that’s an enormous achievement for me. My objective is to win 4 medals throughout all of the 4 occasions I’ll be competing in.”
Graham will likely be joined by defending champions Timothy Gould (II-2) and Hunter Thompson (II-3), who’re each ranked world No.1s of their respective classes.
| Virtus World Tennis Championships 2024 Australian group |
|||
| Males | Classification | Ladies | Classification |
| Archie Graham (Qld) | II-1 | Kelly Wren (NSW) | II-1 |
| Mitchell James (Qld) | II-1 | Andriana Petrakis (SA) | II-1 |
| Joshua Holloway (Qld) | II-1 | Carla Lenarduzzi (Vic) | II-1 |
| Damian Phillips (NSW) | II-1 | Breanna Tunny (Qld) | II-1 |
| Timothy Gould (Qld) | II-2 | ||
| Aman Ramadani (Qld) | II-2 | ||
| Hunter Thompson (Qld) | II-3 | ||
| Hayden Ballard (Qld) | II-3 | ||
Classifications within the PWII pathway: II-1 (Mental Incapacity), II-2 (Down syndrome), II-3 (Autism).
After finishing a coaching camp on the Gold Coast final week, Australian head coach Alison Scott is assured the group goes to be extraordinarily aggressive on the worldwide stage.
“This yr we’ve obtained two new gamers who’ve come into the combination, Hayden Ballard within the II-3 class and Aman Ramadani within the II-2 class. They’re each very proficient younger gamers from Queensland, who’ve gelled into the group setting exceptionally properly,” Scott stated.
“Our extra skilled gamers have welcomed Hayden and Aman with open arms and are actually embracing and nurturing them into the group which is unbelievable to see – we have now nice camaraderie.”
The worldwide PWII tennis panorama has elevated in dimension, and the Australian group is properly geared up to rise to the event with the added competitors.
“In the event you take into accounts the II-2 sport class, which is gamers with Down syndrome, final yr internationally we had 4 opponents worldwide,” Scott defined.
“This yr we have now 13 which is an enormous leap in numbers, and actually exhibits the expansion within the PWII house.
“I envisage this quantity will proceed to extend within the coming years and we’re properly ready for that transferring ahead. Tennis Australia is a world chief in supporting this pathway and offering superb alternatives for our gamers.
“Our Australian representatives, excessive efficiency and junior gamers have entry to world-class amenities and coaching, and the extra proficient gamers that we have now in our pathway, the higher likelihood we have now of competing on the world stage.
“It’s not solely about tennis however it’s about offering alternatives that fulfill their lives as properly. It’s studying methods to be an amazing particular person, competitor and a group participant.”
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