TheSportsCampus

The Australian Pro Tour will move to Caloundra, Queensland (men's event) and Launceston, Tasmania (women's event) next week. The men will gather for the Caloundra Tennis International underway from 4 to 12 February at the Caloundra Tennis Club. The ATP Challenger event will see 32 players from around Australia and the world compete for $50,000 in prize money.

In-form world No.205 James Duckworth (Gordon, NSW) will lead the Australian contingent with Sam Groth (Templestowe, Vic), Greg Jones (Manly, NSW), James Lemke (Camberwell, Vic), Michael Look (Scarborough, Qld), Marinko Matosevic (Dandenong, Vic), Benjamin Mitchell (Worongary, Qld) and Matt Reid (Dural, NSW) all making the trip to the sunny state.

Also joining them will be Australian Open Junior Championship winner and world No.1 junior Luke Saville (Barmera, SA) who has been awarded a wildcard into the main draw.

World No.65 and former Wimbledon quarterfinalist Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) will lead the international field of players. Others contesting the title include world No.237 Kamil Capkovic (SVK), world No.244 Raven Klassen (RSA), world No.257 Sebastian Rieschick (GER), world No. 260 Axel Michon (FRA) and world No.264 Jimmy Wang (TPE).

"The Caloundra Tennis International is going from strength to strength," said Tim Dwyer, Deputy Mayor Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

"Tennis Australia recognises the importance of supporting the game in regional areas and Caloundra is building a fine reputation around the event.

"The collaboration between Tennis Australia, Tennis Queensland and the Sunshine Coast Council has helped make this event a reality again this year. Couple this with the partnership between the Australian Pro Tennis and Golf Academy, Rumba Resort and the Caloundra Tennis Centre, and you have the ingredients that an event of this calibre requires."

Brian Ciseau from Australian Pro Tennis and Golf Academies can't wait to host the fifth Caloundra Tennis International.

"We're excited to see the next crop of young Australian players play here and improve their rankings. Bernard Tomic has set the bench mark for the young ones at the moment. Last year Bernard arrived here in Caloundra ranked 199 and now he's 34 in the world," said Ciseau.

"That's what these Challengers do for these young players. These sorts of events are so important for developing tennis in Australia."

Next week the women will compete at the Launceston Tennis International with qualifying beginning on Sunday 5 February at the Launceston Regional Tennis Centre and the main draw taking place from 7 to 12 February.

Five of Australia's top 10 women including Olivia Rogowska (St Kilda, Vic), Isabella Holland (St Lucia, Qld), Bojana Bobusic (South Perth, WA), Monique Adamczak (NSW) and Sally Peers (Glen Waverley, Vic) will compete for USD $25,000 in prize money and valuable ranking points.

The world's top junior girls will also travel to Launceston with world No.6 junior and Australian Open Junior Championship finalist Yulia Putintseva (RUS) playing the main draw while world No.1 junior Irina Khromacheva (RUS) and world No.3 junior Ashleigh Barty (Springfield, Qld) will contest the qualifying draw to earn a spot in the field.

Well known international players also heading to the tournament include world No.167 Yurika Sema (JPN), world No.187 Chanel Simmonds (RSA), world No.217 Ling Zhang (HKG) and world No.232 Aiko Nakamura (JPN).

Tournament Director Mark Handley welcomes the players to Launceston as they celebrate the first anniversary of the new regional tennis centre.

"It's fantastic to be able to invite a group of world-class players to Launceston to compete at the Launceston Regional Tennis Centre. The facility is barely a year old and offers the players and local tennis fans the opportunity to enjoy a week of tennis," said Handley.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten also welcomes the group of rising tennis stars to the city.

"It's very exciting to see our city playing host to the Launceston Tennis International and fantastic to see some top-level players visiting Northern Tasmania for the event," said van Zetten.

"It will be a great showcase for the new 11-court Launceston Regional Tennis Centre, and promises to be a fierce competition. I'm sure the people of Launceston will be extremely supportive of this event and we look forward to more like it in the future."