Misc Tennis

Kylie Watson-Wheeler and Robyn Hendry join Board | 19 December, 2024 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Kylie Watson-Wheeler and Robyn Hendry join Board | 19 December, 2024 | All News | News and Features | News and Events

Two highly-credentialled new directors have been appointed and one returned to the Tennis Australia Board.

Melbourne, 19 December 2024 | tennis.com.au

Two highly-credentialled new directors have been appointed and one returned to the Tennis Australia Board at their Annual General Meeting in Melbourne.

The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand Managing Director Kylie Watson-Wheeler (Vic) and former Aspen Medical General Manager Robyn Hendry (ACT) are the new faces on the TA Board while Mark Da Silva (Vic) was returned for a third term.

Reflecting on a successful year for the organisation Tennis Australia Chair Jayne Hrdlicka told Members that it was the continued strength of participation numbers and significant growth in the number of kids playing tennis that stood out.

Tennis was the most requested sport in the Australian Sports Commission’s Sporting Schools program with more than 530,000 students experiencing the sport at 3000 schools in the past financial year.

Clubs and venues raised the bar with improved courts, facilities and smart technology, development pathways, competitive opportunities also expanded and the popularity of complementary disciplines including Padel, Pickleball and POP Tennis simultaneously soared.

Among the many high points, there were arguably none greater than a gold-medal triumph for Matt Ebden and John Peers at the Paris Olympics. Their come-from behind victory in a dramatic final symbolised many of the most-loved traits of tennis – teamwork and grit.

Alex de Minaur achieved a top-10 singles breakthrough – fittingly, that milestone was secured as he represented Australia at the United Cup in January – while Ebden, Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson lifted Grand Slam doubles trophies throughout the year.

There were also multiple Australian world No.1s. Storm Hunter ascended the summit in women’s doubles in November, Ebden became a world No.1 soon after his Australian Open 2024 doubles triumph, while Queensland teen Emerson Jones rose to junior No.1 after a stunning season that included progress to the Australian Open and Wimbledon girls’ finals. And after a spirited campaign to claim his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Montreal, Alexei Popyrin soared to a new career-high ranking.

A collective passion for tennis was clear in the record 1.4 million fans who flocked to the Australian summer of Tennis and the impact of the Australian Open resonates throughout the community….

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Tennis.com.au – Tennis Australia…