Tennis star to learn at US college

TENNIS star Abigail Tere-Apisah has won a four-year tennis scholarship to attend Georgia State University in the US.
The 18-year-old successfully completed her attachment with Margaret Court Tennis Academy in Australia and will leave for America in January.
Tere-Apisah graduated at Albury High School last week and would  return home for Christmas before begining her tertiary studies at GSU.
She has set her sights on a professional career and was thankful for the opportunities given to her during her time in Albury.
“Being in Albury has really opened opportunities for me and I’ve really enjoyed my time here – it’s like my second home,” Tere-Apisah said.
“Moving there (Albury) helped me get to more tournaments and improve my ranking.
“Schools and tennis have been great and I’m going to miss everyone in Albury.”
Although sad to leave Albury, the Central-Morobe lass was looking forwards to making her mark in US.
“I’m going to use this opportunity to try and improve my ranking and play in a few more tournaments,” she said.
“I need to get my fitness at my peak and play in as many tournaments as I can and hopefully one day, I can play professionally.”
Her Margaret Court coach Phil Shanahan said although the academy would miss her presence, the opportunity to play in the US gave the PNG champion the opportunity to make it to the highest level.
“By going to Georgia State, Abi is going to be giving herself every opportunity to prepare herself for the professional circuit,” Shanahan said.
“She’s been a real inspiration to the younger children at our academy and they all look up to her and the younger girls really idolize her.
“She’s a phenomenal tennis player and we’re all going to miss her.”
Tere-Apisah said Shanahan’s coaching had help her take her tennis to the next level and that she would be forever thankful to him, and the rest of the Albury community who had helped her along the way.
“Phil has helped me so much and I’d like to thank him for that,” she said.
“The Ellwood family let me into their home and Ian Crossley organized my education and the North Albury Rotary has helped me get that education as well as my parents and everyone one involved with tennis in Albury.”
Tere-Apisah would follow the footstep of her brother, Lawerence Tere who also won the tennis scholarship in US and graduated and joined the US army.