Olympic tennis great John Millman invites Albo to Brisbane after 2032 Games comment

A two-time Olympian has slapped down comments from the prime minister that Melbourne could host the 2032 tennis.

Two-time Olympic tennis great John Millman and former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have weighed in on the debate over the 2032 venues after the prime minister queried if Queensland should host Olympic rowing and tennis.

Millman, a proud Brisbanite, invited Anthony Albanese to the Brisbane International to see how great his home town would be as a Games host.

He said the Queensland Tennis Centre on the city’s southside was a logical choice because it was the headquarters for the National Tennis Academy, which nurtured young players aiming to reach the world’s top 100.

Millman also pointed out that Queensland had a proud record of producing tennis greats dating back to Rod Laver in the 1960s.

“I’m not having a dig at Mr Albanese. But I know he’s a tennis fan and we would love to have him come up here and see the International,’’ he said.

John Millman says Brisbane should host the 2032 tennis. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“Australia’s best young players aged 14 to 23 are learning their trade here and so many great players have come out of Queensland, from Rod Laver to your Patty Rafters and Sam Stosurs.

“But we’re crying out for more tennis courts and one of the things the Olympics needs to deliver is a legacy.’’

A new 3000-seat show court and 12 new match courts were slated for the Queensland Tennis Centre as part of a Games upgrade.

Millman, now retired, said he definitely would not be playing in 2032 but believed hosting the tennis would be an enormous inspiration for a new generation of sunshine state greats.

Ms Palaszczuk also weighed in, saying Premier David Crisafulli would “step in and deal with the prime minister on this’’.

Design of the Queensland Tennis Centre proposed upgrade at Tennyson. Image: Supplied

“Look, these are the Queensland games and the Australian games and can I just say this will be worked out,’’ she said on Weekend Today on Saturday morning.

“It will be worked out between the Queensland government and the Australian government, but the Queensland government can’t go and make these unilateral decisions.”

Ms Palaszczuk said all forms of government need to sit down with the IOC.

“There is also the IOC, so cool heads need to prevail here with the games, they all need to sit down and work out the agreement because these are the people’s games,” she said.

“They are not the games of one individual and the International Olympic Committee has to have a say.

“I think David (Crisafulli) will step in and deal with the prime minister on this, he will sideline his deputy (Jarrod Bleijie) because these games are too important, they are important for the Australian people and you know it took a lot of negotiation between me and (former PM) Scott Morrison.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus with the winner’s trophy at this year’s Brisbane International. John Millman says our tennis tragic prime minister should check out the tournament. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“We got it done, and I am quite sure David Crisafulli and Albo and the IOC will work it out.’’

The state government yesterday doubled down on its choice of venues, with Housing Minister Sam O’Connor saying they were committed to the Games Delivery Plan.

“Our events are as they are laid out in the delivery plan and they are happening in Queensland,’’ Mr O’Connor said.

“We’re very proud to have worked with communities across the state to put it together to make sure our entire state benefits from the 2032 Games and we’re working hard now to deliver it with all levels of government.’’

Mr Albanese sparked uproar on Friday when he said on the Two Good Sports podcast that Melbourne had great tennis facilities, while also querying the suitability of hosting the rowing on the crocodile-infested Fitzroy River.

“Are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith (in Sydney)?’’ he said.

“There’s a debate over tennis and what’s needed there in Brisbane as well.

“You have pretty good tennis facilities here (in Melbourne).

“Those things need to be worked through. It might be that the tennis stadium is built in Brisbane – fantastic.’’

Originally published as Olympic tennis great John Millman invites Albo to Brisbane after 2032 Games comment