Some of the greatest names in the history of Australian tennis assembled today on Pat Rafter Arena to officially open the new $82 million dollar home of Queensland tennis.
Frank Sedgman, Ken Rosewall, Mal Anderson, Ashley Cooper, John Newcombe, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Wendy Turnbull, Pat Rafter and the late Ken Fletcher’s son Julien were all part of the official opening ceremony at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
Former world No.4 and Australian Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Wendy Turnbull is one of many who is thrilled there is a new facility.
“After all these years of driving past the old Milton site, it’s really exciting to have this new facility,” Turnbull said. ”I’m sure it will stimulate more interest in tennis and will bring on Queensland’s up-and-coming juniors.”
Pat Rafter was given the honour of serving the first ball at the arena that has been named after him. He served to Ashley Cooper who duly returned it to the two-time US Open champion.
Following the official first serve, Rafter was joined by outstanding Queensland junior Isabella Holland for a mixed doubles exhibition match against Queensland and Australia’s highest ranked woman Samantha Stosur and another talented Queensland teenager Jason Kubler.
The entertaining match provided a light-hearted beginning for the centre’s opening. It remains to be seen whether all matches at Pat Rafter Arena end with all players smiling, which was the case today.
While Rafter and co. weren’t concerned with the outcome of their match, the 32 women who started on the road to qualifying for the Brisbane International main draw were deadly serious about theirs.
There are six Australian women hoping to make the Brisbane International their first WTA event of the year. Jessica Moore, Anastasia Rodionova, Emelyn Starr, Monique Adamczak, Sophie Ferguson and Marija Mirkovic all figured in the first day of qualifying.
Photo gallery: Queensland Tennis Centre Opening