The State of Play December 2010 A long wait for Australia. Our first tie will be played next July. First round ties in the Asia - Oceania Zone One will be played from 4 - 6 March next year, however Australia has a bye and will not participate until the second round. We will play the winner of Chinese Taipei and People's Republic of China who meet in the first round. Other first round ties will be between Philippines and Japan and New Zealand and Uzbekistan. Australia will know its opponent on 6 March but whichever nation it is we will be playing overseas in July. Farewell Fitzy Pat Rafter is Australia's new Davis Cup captain. As members will be aware, John Fitzgerald has handed over the role of Davis Cup captain to dual US Open champion. Pat Rafter. The new coach of the team will be Tony Roche who formerly coached the team during John Newcombe's tenure as captain. Fitzy took over the job as captain in 2001 and leaves with a 17-9 win-loss record. Seven of his ten years in charge were spent in the elite World Group. Undoubtedly the highlight was the thrilling victory over Spain in the final at Melbourne in 2003. During his last tie as captain, against Belgium in Cairns, Fitzy was joined on the sidelines by Rafter who observed first hand the highs and lows of captaincy. Fitzy said of his decision to stand down, “With such a good pair ready to step in I felt the timing was perfect. It has been an absolute privilege to lead this team.” Following his retirement as captain Fitzy accepted a nomination to fill a vacancy on the board of Tennis Australia to which he was elected from a strong field of candidates. His elevation to the board will bring to the table first hand knowledge of the current needs of men's tennis in Australia. We wish him every success in his new role and we congratulate him for a job well done as captain. He will, of course, continue as a director of the Foundation. We are pleased to welcome Pat Rafter and Tony Roche to their new roles and hope they have great success with the team. Craig Tiley, Director of Tennis at Tennis Australia, said at the announcement of the appointments “Pat has such a passion for Davis Cup and for the sport in general. I know he will make a success of this and Tony's record speaks for itself.” Christmas Greetings to all members and our best wishes for a splendid summer of tennis. The new Cairns Regional Tennis Centre during the tie against Belgium. John Fitzgerald in Cairns, with Peter Luczak during his tense four set reverse singles rubber against Olivier Rochus.
Transcript
The State of Play
December 2010
A long wait for Australia.
Our first tie will be played next July.First round ties in the Asia - OceaniaZone One will be played from 4 - 6March next year, however Australiahas a bye and will not participateuntil the second round. We will playthe winner of Chinese Taipei andPeople's Republic of China who meetin the first round.
Other first round ties will be betweenPhilippines and Japan and NewZealand and Uzbekistan.
Australia will know its opponent on 6March but whichever nation it is wewill be playing overseas in July.
Farewell Fitzy
Pat Rafter is Australia's new DavisCup captain.
As members will be aware, JohnFitzgerald has handed over the role ofDavis Cup captain to dual US Openchampion. Pat Rafter. The new coachof the team will be Tony Roche whoformerly coached the team duringJohn Newcombe's tenure as captain.
Fitzy took over the job as captain in2001 and leaves with a 17-9 win-lossrecord. Seven of his ten years incharge were spent in the elite WorldGroup. Undoubtedly the highlightwas the thrilling victory over Spain inthe final at Melbourne in 2003.
During his last tie as captain, againstBelgium in Cairns, Fitzy was joinedon the sidelines by Rafter whoobserved first hand the highs andlows of captaincy. Fitzy said of hisdecision to stand down, “With such agood pair ready to step in I felt thetiming was perfect. It has been anabsolute privilege to lead this team.”
Following his retirement as captainFitzy accepted a nomination to fill avacancy on the board of TennisAustralia to which he was electedfrom a strong field of candidates. Hiselevation to the board will bring tothe table first hand knowledge of thecurrent needs of men's tennis inAustralia. We wish him every successin his new role and we congratulatehim for a job well done as captain. Hewill, of course, continue as a directorof the Foundation.
We are pleased to welcome Pat Rafterand Tony Roche to their new rolesand hope they have great successwith the team.
Craig Tiley, Director of Tennis at Tennis Australia, said at theannouncement of the appointments“Pat has such a passion for Davis Cupand for the sport in general. I know hewill make a success of this and Tony'srecord speaks for itself.”
Christmas Greetings to all members and our best wishes for a splendid summer of tennis.
The new Cairns Regional Tennis Centre during the tie against Belgium.
John Fitzgerald in Cairns, with Peter Luczak during his tense four set reverse singles rubber againstOlivier Rochus.
Vale Len Schwartz
The death in South Australia of ouroldest Davis Cup representative.
Len Schwartz, our oldest Davis Cupplayer has died, aged 97. Len was aremarkably gifted sportsman. Hisbrief Davis Cup career saw him winhis only singles rubber in 1938 againstMexico, a year when he also touredthe US and Canada with illustriousteam mates - Quist, Bromwich andHopman.
Len also played in the Linton Cupteam for South Australia over threeyears from 1930 and as a doublesplayer held SA titles from 1936 to1939.
His versatility was such that he heldstate titles in four sports - tennis, bad-minton, squash and lawn bowls, alsobeing the national fours titleholder inthat sport.
WW2 interrupted his tennis careerand, after serving as a captain in thearmy, Len began a successful profes-sional tennis coaching career which,under the rules of the day, ended hisopportunity to play Davis Cup tennis.The late Ken McGregor became one ofhis star pupils.
Len Schwartz will be honoured by
Tennis SA at a function during theWorld Tennis Challenge in January2011.
Australian OpenLuncheon
For the Record
Belgium d Australia 3-2,World Group play-off, Cairns International Tennis Centre, 17-19 September.
SinglesLleyton Hewitt d Ruben Bemelmans7-6 (4), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
SinglesOlivier Rochus d Peter Luczak 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (2)
Steve Darcis d Carsten Ball 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4
Bookings for this popular eventclose on 31 December, and they arefilling fast.
Our members' luncheon during the2011 Australian Open luncheon willbe held at the Sofitel Hotel on CollinsStreet in Melbourne on Friday 28January.
We encourage members to book earlyas numbers are limited and theseluncheons are normally fully subscribed. You'll enjoy great food inwonderful surroundings and a lot offun, while Allan Stone's interviewwith a 'mystery' celebrity is always ahighlight.
Australian OpenBooth
Can you help staff our booth at nextyear's Open?
As usual we will rely on members tovolunteer for duty in staffing ourbooth in 2011. This is not an arduoustask, in fact it is a lot of fun and youonly need to attend on one or twodays. We always need new membersand this is your chance to enjoy theatmosphere of the Autralian Openand spread the word and encouragesome like minded tennis fans to jointhe Foundation.
If you can help, contact JudyPullyblank without delay, she will bevery pleased to hear from you on (03)9499 6228.
Hanley and Hewitt combined well for a good win against Belgium.
The Australian team prior to the commencement of the Belgian tie.
Annual General Meeting
The thirty-ninth Annual GeneralMeeting of Members was held withinthe delightful surroundings of theRoyal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Clubon Monday 22 November with justover 100 members in attendance.
The business of the meeting includeda ballot for the election of twelveDirectors. In conformity with stan-dard practice, all currently servingDirectors retired with effect from theconclusion of the meeting and, beingconstitutionally eligible to do so, eachstood for re-election.
On this occasion an additional nomina-tion was received at the eleventh hourthereby forcing a ballot which was con-ducted during the course of the meet-ing from those present in person andthose who had earlier chosen toappoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.
The result of the ballot, which was con-ducted by a Partner of an Internationalfirm of Chartered Accountants, saw thereturn of the incumbent Directors by acomfortable margin.
The election of Office-bearers becamea mere formality with the number ofcandidates being equal only to thenumber of positions available. Office-bearers for the ensuing term are -
President: Neale Fraser AO MBE
Vice Presidents: Brian Tobin AMGraeme Williams
Hon Secretary: Graeme Cumbrae-Stewart OAM
Hon Treasurer: Des O'Brien
Mystery Speaker At the conclusion of the meeting mem-bers were entertained by the wit andunassuming nature of former DavisCup team member, Scott Draper whowas interviewed by our ImmediatePast Vice President, Allan Stone.
Scott spoke openly about his tenniscareer which came to prominence firstas a junior, concluding with theWimbledon Junior Doubles title in1992 before turning professional in1993. He reached a career high ATPSingles ranking of 42 in 1998. Other“highs” include being the AO Mixed
Doubles titleholder with Sam Stosurin 2005 and as coach of LleytonHewitt in 2007.
Due in no small measure to Allan’s impeccable research, we learned thatScott is a natural sportsman havingexcelled in three sports; Tennis, Golf(NSW PGA Champion in 2007) andLawn Bowls (National Champion inthe 45 years and under category); and astonishingly, having won major tennis and golf championships only afew weeks apart.
Scott is now enjoying his role coaching juniors at the NationalAcademy in his home town ofBrisbane. His base at the newQueensland Tennis Centre offers agym, clay, grass and hard courts and,as Scott said - “who could ask foranything more?”
Pictured at the AGM are Graeme Cumbrae - Stewart, Neale Fraser, Scott Draper and Tony Brain.
Thea Fraser and Carmen Tobin enjoying the hos-pitality at the AGM.
Australia’s Top Ten MenESP - Entry SystemPositions as at 22ndNovember
1 Lleyton Hewitt (SA) 542 Peter Luczak (Vic) 139 3 Narinko Matosevic (Vic) 140 4 Carsten Ball (resides USA) 1525 Matthew Ebden (WA) 165 6 John Millman (Qld) 189 7 Bernard Tomic (Qld) 218 8 Brydan Klein (WA) 220 9 Greg Jones (NSW) 239 10 Nick Lindahl (NSW) 241
Our top ranked doubles playersare as follows:1 Paul Hanley (Qld) 27 2 Stephen Huss (Vic) 59 3 Jirdan Kerr (SA) 78 4 Rameez Junaid (Vic) 95 5 Carsten Ball (resides USA) 106
In case youmissed it
Earlier this month Serbia defeatedFrance 3-2 to win the 2010 Davis Cupfinal in Belgrade. It was Serbia's firstvictory. (See full results on back page.)Scores were:G Monfils (Fra) d J Tipsarevic (Serb)6-1, 7-6(4),6-0N Djokovic (Serb) d G Simon (Fra) 6-3, 6-1, 7-5A Clement/M Llodra (Fra) d V Troicki/N Zimonjic (Serb)3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4N Djokovic (Serb) d G Monfils (Fra) 6-2, 6-2, 6-4V Troicki (Serb) d M Llodra (Fra) 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Compiled and edited by Ray Briggs (03) 95849328 Art by Erwins Printing 03 9793 4844 www.erwinsprinting.com.au
The Australian Davis Cup Tennis FoundationPO Box 342, Ivanhoe Vic 3079. Phone: (03) 9499 6228 Fax: (03) 9497 4333 Email: [email protected]
Play-offs05 Mar - 07 Mar 2010
Quarterfinals09 Jul - 11 Jul 2010
Semifinals17 Sep - 19 Sep 2010
Final03 Dec - 05 Dec 2010
2010Spain 4 (s)(c)Switzerland 1
Germany 1 (s)France 4 (c)
Spain 0 (s)France 5 (c)
Russia 3 (s)(c)India 2
Argentina 3 (s)Sweden 2 (c)
Ecuador 0Croatia 5 (s)(c)
Serbia 3 (c)United States 2 (s)
Chile 4 (c)Israel 1 (s)
Belgium 1 (c)Czech Republic 4 (s)
Russia 2 (s)(c)Argentina 3 (s)
Croatia 1 (s)(c)*Serbia 4
Chile 1 (c)*Czech Republic 4 (s)
France 5 (c)Argentina 0 (s)
Serbia 3 (c)Czech Republic 2 (s)
France 2 Serbia 3 (c)
World Group Result
World Group Results 2010
Camp Cairns
A wonderful experience for our 12and under boys.
The Australian Davis Cup Tennis
Foundation National Camp Programprovided six (12U) boys with theopportunity to integrate with theAustralian Davis Cup team in Cairns.
The 12U boys pictured during the Davis Cup tie in Cairns.
The boys participated in many on andoff court activities throughout thecamp. One of the main highlights wasthe integration of Pat Rafter, ToddWoodbridge and John Fitzgerald. Thecamp also educated the boys in specific recovery methods, nutrition,physical conditioning and mediatraining with Sunrise on Channel 7.Throughout the tie against Belgiumthe boys were lucky enough to sitright behind the players' bench to beas close to the team action as possible.
This was a successful camp and a modelthat Tennis Australia will continue withfor future Davis Cup ties.
The six boys who attended the campwere: Scott Jones (WA), Lliam Bishop(SA), Max Purcell (NSW), Brian Tran(NSW), Chase Ferguson (Vic), andBernard Nkomba (NSW)
