Alice Springs local Thomas Van Haaren heading to Melbourne after winning NT tennis competition
An up and coming tennis star from the Red Centre is heading interstate to compete for up to $1m in prize money, after he was crowned the Territory’s champion in Darwin.
A win in the Top End has one Red Centre tennis player heading south to compete for $1 million in prize money at a national tennis competition, where he’s excited to share the court “with the best in the world”.
Thomas Van Haaren, from Alice Springs, is gearing up to hit the court in the Victorian capital as part of the AO 1 Point Slam Main Draw at Melbourne Park – where world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Nick Kyrgios are confirmed to be playing in the same competition.
Van Haaren secured his ticket to the upcoming comp at Rod Laver Arena after being crowned the Territory’s champion at the AO 1 Point Slam NT Champion in Darwin.
Representing the Alice Springs Tennis Association, Van Haaren, 22, beat out Gove Peninsula Tennis Club’s Levi McLean to nab the crown – and return tickets to Melbourne, plus two nights accommodation to take part in the national competition.
“Super grateful for the opportunity and to play a couple of points and share the court with the best in the world – I’m super excited to get to Melbourne and give it a go,” Van Haaren said.
In Melbourne, Van Haaren will play in a one day only one-point knock out format featuring 48 players – pros, amateurs, and celebrity wildcards – all battling for the prize money.
Tennis NT chief executive Tania Tandora said Van Haaren was getting an “experience of a lifetime” representing both Alice Springs and the NT on the big stage in Melbourne after clinching the win.
“We’ve had a ball hosting the 1 Point Slam events and watching the NT tennis community embrace the format. It’s high stakes drama with every decision and so much fun seeing students face-off against coaches, parents against kids, and tonight – club versus club,” she said.
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley called the competition “fast, unfiltered, and open to everyone”.
The AO 1 Point Slam Main Draw will take place on January 14, with tickets going on sale later in December.
Originally published as Alice Springs local Thomas Van Haaren heading to Melbourne after winning NT tennis competition
