Locals in fight for main draw
FORMER tournament champion Matthew Hicks is two steps away from the main draw of this year’s Victorian Grasscourt Championships.
Hicks, who took out the 2011 event, won a hard-fought contest in mid-30 degree temperatures against Qian Sun, and despite the 7-6 6-3 score line, says he is not putting any pressure on himself today to get through the qualifying stage.
“I had premier league a month ago and I said at the time if I was hitting the ball well then I’d play again. I’ve been playing this tournament since I was 15 and after winning it six years ago there is no pressure on me,” Hicks said.
“I’ve got a lot of kids I’m coaching in this tournament who are playing this for the first time so you just want to set a good example.
“The hitting has been fine but just being (so hot), that has been the biggest shock. I joke about it but I’m probably the oldest person in qualifying.
“I know I can still be competitive but I knew this was going to be tough.”
Should Hicks win his opening match today he is drawn to play fellow local James Brushfield, meaning only one of the pair can join Adam Lasky as Geelong-based players in the men’s draw.
The 34-year-old said he would use his experience at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club — where he is a seven-time winner of the club championships — to try to force a playoff with his close friend.
“I’ve got a really tough game first up against an upand-coming junior but the good thing about it is a lot of these juniors don’t know who I am,” he said. “I’ll treat them with respect on court but the big positive is if I do get through and if James gets through we play each other in the last match of qualifying.
“He is a good mate of mine and I’ve known his family for years, so if we play each other at least we’ve got another Geelong person in the main draw.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to get there and it’s a shame we weren’t in separate halves of the draw but either way, I’ll be so happy for James if he gets through.”
Matches commence today from 9am.