Melbourne tennis players ‘intimidated by gang of youths’

A Melbourne tennis club has contacted Tennis Australia after a group of players were abused and intimidated by a gang.

Players at Essendon Tennis Club in Melbourne. Picture: Essendon Tennis Club.

A Melbourne tennis club has urged its members to be vigilant when playing at night and has contacted Tennis Australia to spread the message after a group of players were abused and intimidated by a gang of teenagers last Thursday.

The Essendon Tennis Club has warned its members to take their own personal safety seriously and contacted nearby clubs after a gang of 14 teenagers of African appearance threatened players at the Clifton Park Reserve on December 28.

Members were playing evening tennis at the club in Aberfeldie in Melbourne’s west when a group of youths playing basketball nearby approached the courts and started hurling abuse and intimidating comments across the fence.

The players soon called 000.

Club chairperson Rhys Collins told The Australian that no members were hurt during the altercation, but had been left rattled and worried for their safety.

“Our guys were down there have a hit and mucking around on the court when a group of young men approached the fence and were threatening and abusive towards them,” Mr Collins told The Australian.

“It made the members feel unsafe so they called the police and four units turned up,’’ he said.

But no charges were laid because no one was hurt, Mr Collins said.

Victoria Police confirmed there had been an incident and have asked anyone with more information to come forward.

They said the teenagers had dispersed by the time the police got there.

“Triple 000 was called shortly after 7.45pm and a report was made that an altercation had occurred between a group of youths at the basketball courts and patrons of the neighbouring tennis club,” a police statement said.

“Police attended the reserve, however the group of youths had dispersed before police arrival. Officers patrolled and monitored the area for an amount of time following the report, however no weapons or alleged offenders were located.

No formal complaint or injuries have been reported at this time.”

The incident comes as Victoria Police and the state government say they are battling to contain a series of street gangs comprised of a “small core group” of repeat offenders, some of which are from the African community.