Para Tennis 2025 Thread

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Para Tennis 2025 Thread

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Sorry I was wrong, looks like there is a world championships this year in Kazakhstan

AnnaM · Junior player

JonH comes home wrote:
We had a thread last year which largely allowed us to keep tabs on the progress of Anna McBride and other players in the Para tennis world, so felt a new one for 2025 would be useful.
If Anna's Dad reads this, I guess Anna and our other players are down in Australia now for the Aussie Open event?
I can't see a draw on the AO website, not sure if there is one yet or it is somewhere else?
Apart from Anna, which other Brits are taking part?
How are things down there and good luck to Anna and the other players for when play starts?
Final question for now! In terms of the Para calendar this year, what other big events are taking place to keep an eye on? I don't think this is a World Championships year, is it? Is the AO the biggest event in terms of prestige?

So far only Lily and Anna are in Oz. Anna since last Sunday. Both are in the heat of Brisbane for training. Anna has hit with some decent men while here and it is a great place to visit. The rest of the team arrives on Sunday. You can see the three GB men and two GB women in the AO draw further down this page.

We are flying back to Melbourne on Sunday for a 3K warmup tournament on Monday.
https://tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/event.aspx?id=8253CEEC-0A91-456F-87BF-423DD55DF1E8&event=2

The AO draws and GB players will be here: https://tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/events.aspx?id=540e0fd7-b2bc-4b04-8a9e-2b8f4f98091a

As of this week, the LTA are still conducting a risk assessment regarding going to Khazi. Ashtana is probably fine
as long as you don't wander around the back streets at night. The costs of going are not cheap either. Tennis Austrailia
are only sending half a normal team. So this event is in the balance right now for us. Not going would cede the
World title to Eva. Who spent six weeks prior to the Annecy World Champs training for 3-4 hours a day. Anna would love to have that input.

They are all in to find a way for Eva to beat Anna.

I'm not sure about the other events. Will there be a Queens event? Will Anna get invited?
We only find out very close to the events. The LTA should really be promoting its World medalists, so keep your fingers crossed.

So far, the AO has outshone all the other events, with Queens a good 2nd. Although, that was just an exhibition event.

The AO have heavily invested in inclusion and are proud of their many events at the AO.The AO carries a lot of weight and in my view is the main event right now.

The World and Global Games should up there, or higher, but seem to struggle, as the much lower level
Special Olympics steal all the limelight. It would be good if the other Grand Slams to emulate the AO.

Anna attended a cardio tennis last night. It had been 39C earlier, but had cooled to 30-32C fr the evening session. For some reason the upload ends up side on.

-- Edited by AnnaM on Friday 17th of January 2025 04:54:29 AM

Tanaqui · Club Coach

Thanks for all the info, Anna's Dad! (And thanks for starting the thread, Jon.)

Hope everyone acclimatises well (I can barely move in that kind of heat!) and that everyone does well and has fun in the Aus tournaments.

AnnaM · Junior player

Tanaqui wrote:
Thanks for all the info, Anna's Dad! (And thanks for starting the thread, Jon.)

Hope everyone acclimatises well (I can barely move in that kind of heat!) and that everyone does well and has fun in the Aus tournaments.

Thanks

It is quite surprising how quickly you get used to it. The sun is the biggest thing, but warm evenings feel great after the cold weather of the UK!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Yes, thanks Annas Dad- great summary and keep us informed as the AO progresses and also this weekend in Brisbane

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Comprehensive win for Anna today. Good luck in round 2

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

AnnaM · Junior player

JonH comes home wrote:
Comprehensive win for Anna today. Good luck in round 2

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

Thanks.

Anna double faulted game 1 away and then

won 12 games in a row in the mid afternoon 35c heat.

Today we had the same heat, but started earlier

at 1pm, so felt worse. The opponent screamed

and chucked her raquet over ever lost point.

She was almost disqualified yesterday over her behaviour and even threatened to kill the ref.

It was clear that she was trying to keep Anna in the sun as long as possible.

Anna won the first set 6-1 and the abuse, gamesmanship and delays got worse. Anna wilted and was really suffering in the strong sun.

Anna felt dizzy, weak and wanted to retire, but stuck in there.

So her game went off and she dropped 3 games. Anna eventually won 6-1 6-3.

The opponent was already facing a lengthy ban from

yesterday, so that has gone up a lot today. She was previously banned for 12 months.

Anna faces a much stronger player tomorrow. The temps will be much lower. So she can hopefully, just go and have a good match. She really does not want to get much further, as that may impact on her matches on Friday.

Tanaqui · Club Coach

Sorry to hear Anna had to deal with such an obnoxious opponent. Well done to her for sticking with it and letting her (far) superior tennis do the talking.

Good luck in the next round. Sounds like it could be a much more rewarding match in tennis terms, whatever the result.

AnnaM · Junior player

Tanaqui wrote:
Sorry to hear Anna had to deal with such an obnoxious opponent. Well done to her for sticking with it and letting her (far) superior tennis do the talking.

Good luck in the next round. Sounds like it could be a much more rewarding match in tennis terms, whatever the result.

Thanks.

As you say, the match is more important than the result. So she can just enjoy it. Looking to a match in more British summer conditions, 21-22c with plenty of cloud.

Today was annoying, but the good thing is the crowds were calling her out. You heard all sorts of choice words from various people. The players on the next court kept telling Anna to ignore her and beat her. People afterwards said they were glad she won. One woman said something to Anna and the girls mum came over to argue her. She was sent packing and she then complained to the official, who said oh well, someone needs to tell you about your daughter.

AnnaM · Junior player

Lost 6-3 6-3.
A nice respectful competitive match today, with proper tennis being played. Plenty of quality intense hard fought points. The opponent was good and it was decided by small margins. The consistency of the serve being the main difference.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

AnnaM wrote:
Lost 6-3 6-3.
A nice respectful competitive match today, with proper tennis being played. Plenty of quality intense hard fought points. The opponent was good and it was decided by small margins. The consistency of the serve being the main difference.

Thanks for the update - is is straight to Melbourne now, does the AO event begin Thursday ?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Actually I can see AO starts Friday and the draw is up

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament/draw

AnnaM · Junior player

Anna has hit at the Albert Reserve yesterday morning and at the NTC at Melbourne Park this afternoon. Sinner was training two courts away.

She has training courts 9-11am tomorrow

The event starts on Friday.

We and the GB players are currently at the court 6 bar with the LTA President Sandi Proctor.

A free peach icecream and drink

tournaments.tennis.com.au/tournament/540e0fd7-b2bc-4b04-8a9e-2b8f4f98091a/matches/20250124

-- Edited by AnnaM on Wednesday 22nd of January 2025 06:37:23 AM

-- Edited by AnnaM on Wednesday 22nd of January 2025 07:30:38 AM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

AnnaM wrote:
Anna has hit at the Albert Reserve yesterday morning and at the NTC at Melbourne Park this afternoon. Sinner was training two courts away.
She has training courts 9-11am tomorrow
The event starts on Friday.

We and the GB players are currently at the court 6 bar with the LTA President Sandi Proctor.

A free peach icecream and drink

tournaments.tennis.com.au/tournament/540e0fd7-b2bc-4b04-8a9e-2b8f4f98091a/matches/20250124

-- Edited by AnnaM on Wednesday 22nd of January 2025 06:37:23 AM

-- Edited by AnnaM on Wednesday 22nd of January 2025 06:40:53 AM

Very exciting to see Sinner close up!