By LIAM TWOMEY
THE summer of tennis is approaching and things are already heating up in the West. Based in Hoppers Crossing, Cambridge Tennis Club is hitting winners both on and off the court with booming numbers and outstanding results propelling it to one of the biggest clubs in the Western Suburbs.
Cambridge boasts over 200 members and has almost 400 participants in its coaching program.
On court, the club also claimed its first pennant premiership this year.
Head coach Jason O’Neil said he was rapt with the progress being made.
“We are really strong at the moment. We are probably the biggest club in the Wyndham area in terms of team numbers and things like that so things are going really well,” he said.
“We run a range of programs from beginner tennis up to advanced players and we service quite a few schools in the area through the tennis in schools program. The tennis club has a couple of hundred members so we are working really hard and things are growing and it is going really well.”
One of the club’s biggest success stories is rising star Fraser Richmond.
The 14-years-old is flying up the Australian junior and senior rankings and could be on his way to the big stage.
“I started when I was four-years-old and have always been playing since then,” Richmond said.
“I am in the top 800 in Australia for Open Age. I’m at number 23 in Victoria for my age group, which is birth year 98.
“I have played a lot of events and tried to do my best in each one. The majority of them have been around Victoria but I have played a few in New South Wales and Queensland.”
Despite the outstanding recent results, there are no plans to slow down from anyone at Cambridge with the club looking to go from strength to strength in the New Year.
O’Neil is also hoping to gain funding for new courts so Cambridge can become a tournament base for Tennis Victoria events in the future.
“Once we get a couple of extra courts, we open up a few other revenue streams like being able to host Tennis Victoria sanctioned tournaments here,” he said.
“That can bring in kids from everywhere. There aren’t many tournaments around on this side of town. That is something we are putting in a lot of work for and working with Tennis Victoria to try and work something out and if we can, run some events here. I think it would be great for the profile of Tennis in the West and give something for the kids on this side of town.”
Cambridge Tennis Club is happy to hear from anyone looking to become involved in tennis in the future.
More information about joining the club can be found at its website, http://www.cambridgetennisclub.com.au/
