Tennis Australia review puts onus on players to lift their game

Australia’s best emerging tennis players will have to convince the national federation they have both the desire and a clear plan for their futures.

Fed Cup player Priscilla Hon might be one of those affected by Tennis Australia’s new plans for elite players and funding. Picture: AAP

Australia’s best emerging tennis players will have to convince the national federation they have both the desire and a clear plan on how they intend to become world beaters to receive funding.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has finalised a detailed review into the professional structure that has resulted in several elite coaches losing their jobs this week. Australia has the world’s top-ranked woman in Ash Barty and three men positioned inside the top 50 in Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios and John Millman.

There is also plenty of strong talent in the supporting cast capable of establishing themselves as consistent performers on the main professional tours.

Tiley acknowledged it was a difficult time for a restructure but he said opportunities will open for those now left unemployed to reapply. He felt it was better to review and then implement a plan aimed at delivering greater results from a position of relative strength, which Australia tennis is clearly in, rather than weakness. “There are a lot of things we are doing well but there are a lot of things we think we can do better,” Tiley told The Australian.

Younger players likely to be affected by the change include a group of women currently pressing to break into the top 100, including Maddison Inglis (ranked 114), Astra Sharma (126), Lizette Cabrera (127) and Fed Cup representative Priscilla Hon (132).

Tiley believes that by requiring players to identify their goals and how best to achieve them, they will have a greater understanding of what is required to succeed.

Support relationships with players, who have responsibility for hiring coaches, will be assessed quarterly to ensure they are on the right track.

“It is really about putting the ball in their court,” Tiley said.

Brisbane, which is the home base of Barty, Millman and James Duckworth, will become a major hub for Australian tennis.

The Tennyson base featuring Pat Rafter Arena will host the best emerging talent from the age of 15 upwards, with adjoining accommodation to be used as a base.

State-based academies will still run for talented juniors from 10-and-under through to 18-and-under. Mindful champions such as Rafter, Rod Laver and Margaret Court have emerged from regional areas, squads will also be reintroduced in country areas, with Tiley hopeful talented youngsters can progress from the bush to the city and then to the elite academy in Brisbane.