Ash Barty gives tick of approval to FNQ tennis centre upgrade
World number 1 women’s tennis player Ash Barty has given the Cairns International Tennis Centre’s new roof a giant tick of approval.
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World number 1 women’s tennis player Ash Barty has given the Cairns International Tennis Centre’s new roof a giant tick of approval.
The best female tennis player in the world was on hand to open the new $2.7 million cover the facility’s centre court on Saturday morning, alongside fellow professionals — and Queenslanders — John Millman, John-Patrick Smith and Lizette Cabrera.
Barty served the first ball on the newly-covered centre court, as she partnered with Cairns Mayor Bob Manning to take on Millman and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch in a few doubles exhibition points.
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The 24-year-old Australian tennis star said the new roof would “do massive things” for the sport in North Queensland.
“The roof reminds me very much of what we have in Brisbane, which is incredible,” she said.
“I haven’t actually been up here to play at this tennis centre before so it’s nice to come up and to actually see the roof.
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“It’s going to do massive things not just for professional tennis but also for grassroots tennis, and I think that’s the ultimate goal and what the investment was for, to help tennis through all ages and through all levels.”
Barty said having a roof would bring a different dynamic to tournaments.
“Obviously, it gives you cover if the weather is a bit iffy, it gives you that trust in the tournament and knowing that you’ll be able to get through it, and also for kids, it’s all about safety as well,” she said.
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“It gives you that protection that you need, it has the lights as well so you can play night tennis here, it just adds so many different elements to it.
“The centre, the whole of the Cairns region and North Queensland are going to get a benefit from it.”
Millman, who floored the tennis world when he defeated Roger Federer in the 2018 US Open, said the Far North’s burgeoning tennis community had a bright future.
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“I’ve been so impressed through my stay here in Cairns with how thriving the local community is with their tennis,” he said.
“It’s been a really enjoyable trip for me and I think it’s culminated perfectly with the opening of the new roof here at the tennis centre.
“They’re doing a great job up here in Cairns with their tennis and I think that’s the goal of tennis in general, to build that tennis community, and the regional areas are so important to do that.”
Originally published as Ash Barty gives tick of approval to FNQ tennis centre upgrade