Tere-Apisah impressive in Melbourne tennis win
By HENRY MORABANG
PAPUA New Guinea female tennis champion Abigail Tere-Apisah defied her unseeded status to clinch the Wodonga Labour Day tournament Women’s Open Singles last weekend in Melbourne, Australia.
Abigail won the crown with a straight sets victory over opponent, Lauren Simpson.
The young Papua New Guinea teamed up with Border-based coach Phil Shanahan has not been awarded points for victories in tournaments including the Victorian Junior Grasscourt titles and went into the last weekend’s championship unseeded.
But in the finals against Simpson, who was also unseeded, Tere-Apisah emerged with an impressive straights sets win 6-4, 6-2.
Her coach Shanahan said “We are working with Tennis Australia at the moment to fix that problem. She is at a big disadvantage at the moment because she has missed out Margaret Court Cup points, Victorian Junior Grasscourt and also the last weekend’s tournament.
“We want to see if we can get all those points back-dated. When your start afresh in a new country, there are always things you’ve got to fix up,”
After receiving a walk-over in the first round, Tere-Apisah toppled No 2 seed Alexandra Whitehead from Dendy Park 7-5, 7-0.
She cruised into the semi finals with 6-0,6-0 rout of Victoria Jones before advancing to the final by downing Jessie Adams of Melbourne, 6-3,6-1.
In the top half of the draw, No 1 seed Montana Grenfell crashed out in the semi finals to Simpson 6-1,6-1.
Tere-Apisah had the opportunity to play at Wodonga in front of Australia Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald who competed in the father-son event.
“John Fitzgerald is very impressed with her,” Shanahan said.
“Winning here will be good for her. She has played very well right across the weekend,” Fitzgerald said.
Tere-Apisah warmed up for the Wodonga tournament when she had a hit with Tennis Australia coaches in Melbourne.
She will be playing in the upcoming Albury Easter Tournament and represent Fiji in the Federation Cup.
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