Lets Continue with the Same!

Geoff Pollard was re-elected Tennis Australia president yesterday, seeing off a challenge from ex-Australian Open boss Paul McNamee for the job.So I guess after 20 years of mediocre results, its an endorsement to carry on as usual.Except for Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter Australia has little to show from the Pollard regime.Its intersting to note that both Hewitt and Rafter have called for change.Hewitt's mananger David Drysdale said the 28-year-old's push for change was based on what he believed was best for the sport.

"Lleyton's disappointed with the decision because he felt it was the ideal time for change," Drysdale told AAP.

"He hopes the decision has been made for all the right reasons which is for the betterment of Australian tennis, not due to little deals done with the states (who hold voting rights).

The vote was secret what does that tell you, come on Tennis Australia lets know who voted for who and just how close was the vote in the end.McNamee, who made a brief appearance at the Melbourne hotel where the meeting was being held prior to the result being publicly announced, said he wished Pollard well.

"I do believe that Australia needs to rebuild its status as a great tennis nation and, in order to do this, there are many ongoing issues that must be addressed," McNamee said in a statement.

Really theres administrators sitting on huge salary's making wrong decisions and implementing useless plans and its the players who are striving for some support and direction getting poorer by the day.....trying to fullfill their sporting dream that suffer. Cant wait for the next 20 years...............Not

The Moment of truth for Tennis Australia

The battle for the presidency of Tennis Australia between Paul McNamee and Geoff Pollard is coming to a head and will be decided next Monday.And in an article by the Sydney Morning Herald ,journalist Will Swanton had this to say "THE man responsible for grooming the next generation of Australian champions can barely have a rally. But does it matter?"''He could hardly feed you balls,'' a source said. ''He can't hit with anyone. He does a lot of reading on the game, and he loves it. But he can't play, no.''

Tiley's lack of playing prowess might be inconsequential. But with Australian tennis in such decline and player development constantly under the microscope, it's worth a mention because he has the gig ahead of a flock of former touring professionals who want to be involved. His positions of the Australian Open director and player development manager will come under review if McNamee takes office after the TA election on Monday. Intersting times and I am sure Tennis New Zealand are watching
very closely the result of Monday's vote.
The link to the article from SMH is here

All systems Go

Geraldine Primary was one of the first schools to hit the court in the TSC schools program.44 keen kids were shown skills by The Team of coaches Consisting My self, Jeff West and Tyler Begg.An early morning start was the order of the day this morning with the Elite training mornings kicking off.This program is fully supported and funded by TSC and one of the best initiatives for juniors who are looking to put in more effort with their tennis.Some of the juniors are pictured below with coaches.
Pictured with the coaches are Sam Lane, Ryan Ammar, Geraldine Prisk and Tom Deeley.Jeff West( Texas) and Tyler Begg (Canada) are coaches working with us over the summer and they had a chance to visit Oamaru at the weekend and below is not Japan but somewhere in the gardens of Oamaru, New Zealand.Tyler(right) Jeff(left).They were also given a lesson in ten pin bowling with the "eye" coming out on top in a little coaches competition in Oamaru yesterday.

And yet another serve for Tennis Australia

It just doesn't sit right, an Australian Open on a US-owned surface. Wimbledon has its English grass. The French Open its red clay. The US Open has an American hardcourt … and so does the Australian Open? One of the TA big wigs claimed before the 2007 tournament that Roger Federer had endorsed the move. Only for the world No.1 to arrive at Tullamarine Airport, screw up his face and say he'd never played on it.
Read the full article here

Storm Clouds Brewing for Tennis Australia

Tennis New Zealand took a hammering a few weeks ago and now across the ditch their counterparts at Tennis Australia have storm clouds forming.As Tennis Australia prepares to reveal a loss of close to $7 million for the past financial year and at a time when just two Australian women and two men are inside the top 100 in the respective world rankings, Pollard, 65, is facing the first test to his leadership since being elected in 1989.Paul McNamee's nomination by Tennis West has caused unease at Melbourne Park, where he served as Australian Open tournament director and then chief executive for 12 years until 2006. His relationship with several key Tennis Australia figures remains cool.Now also LLEYTON Hewitt, in a unambiguous attack on chief executive Steve Wood and player development director Craig Tiley, Hewitt said the changing of the guard five years ago had failed.

"In my opinion tennis in Australia and the way it is being administered needs addressing, as we are falling behind many other nations in the world, as well as other sports in our own country," Hewitt said.

"Five years ago there was a change of personnel and many hoped things may get better, however talking with other players, former players and many people who have been involved in tennis for a long time, it sounds like it is getting worse. Read that story at this LinkAnd this in the Australian who says "Every summer we receive emails, mostly of despair, from parents lamenting the poor coaching opportunities for their children. Coaches write that they feel disenfranchised by a system that takes talented young players and impounds them into a centralised, unilateral coaching model. Many think that unless their child is a prodigy then the coaching system is not accessible to them" LINK The trouble is that when National Body's get it wrong its the juniors of today that suffer...........remember Time waits for no one , especially tennis players.- the eye.

Look whats coming for Easter Next Year!!!

Serena Williams has posed nude for this month’s special Body issue of ESPN Magazine. While fans are loving the open stance of the tennis ace, the International Tennis Federation is not amused. The ITA is contemplating stripping the world no. 1 of her berth in the 2010 Australian Open. Further, she can be banned and fined $500,000. Just a month ago, Serena was fined $10,000 for threatening a line judge at the US Open.

Out and about in South Canterbury NZ

Over the past two weeks we have been busy with various groups in South Canterbury.Above are keen juniors from Geraldine after a fun session. Below are girls just wanting to have fun at Timaru Girls High after one of our visits.

Great Conditions For South Canterbury Spring Open Junior Tennis Tournament

Above Henry Race ( Left) and Tom Deeley( Right) taking time to refill their drink bottle during play in the Junior Tournament.You can find results and draws at this link Special mention to all South Canterbury Juniors participation all receiving lots of tennis on Day 1 with impressive results.I kept a watch on all players but special mention to Daniel Kelliher, George Tarbotton,Eli Palmer and Duncan Rollinson all gaining valuable experience from their matches.Below is a short video of todays highlights.