All stars align for a new shot at Sydney

TENNIS NOTHING breeds confidence like a bit of success and Sloane Stephens has no doubt a bigger and better 2018 awaits.

The 2017 US Open tennis champion will kick-start her surge towards more Grand Slam victories when she makes her debut in the Sydney International in January.

Last year’s Sydney International singles victor Johanna Konta will return to defend her title, as will men’s winner Gilles Muller, and veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Stephens, who began the

The program was launched on Wednesday and will run through to Sunday.

Tamatha Harding and Ashleigh Misevski, from Tennis Victoria, will be in the region to train the future deliverers and provide sessions for the community to experience. year ranked 36 and is now 14th in the world, is excited about playing in Sydney.

“Last year I was excited and prepared to play in Sydney but I had to withdraw with a difficult injury. I knew at that point I wanted to return to compete

Tennis QLD FNQ participation leader Jen Rees teamed up with Georgina Sesto from Edge Hill Tennis Club to apply for the Get Out Get Active Government Grant to establish Get Into Cardio Tennis in the Far North.

‘The Queensland Government, in this event,’’ Stephens said this week.

“It’s been an incredibly positive season for me. I’ve always believed I could compete with the top players, I just never dreamed it would happen so soon after I returned from an injury.’’

Stephens shot to fame with her victory over Madison Keyes in the US Open final in New York, the first American woman to win her national title, apart from the Williams sisters, since 1998.

Life quickly changed but she has taken it all in her stride.

“The biggest change in my life is how busy my daily through the Embracing 2018 Legacy Program for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, provided $38,520.32 to Edge Hill Tennis Club to establish Get Into Cardio Tennis in Far North QLD parks to get women and girls active for life,” Rees said. schedule has become. I’ve been fortunate to be exposed to a lot of wonderful experiences. It’s such an honour to have won the US Open.’’

That success has whet the appetite for more majors.

“If I continue to focus on improving on and off the court, I’m confident the results will come and I’ll continue to win big events.’’

The British-based Konta, 26 and ranked 9 in the world, was born in Sydney and spent her childhood in Collaroy. She says she is eager to return to Olympic Park where she will be bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back titles

Get Into Cardio Tennis is a new concept that has been designed to remove some of the perceived barriers that women and girls face when getting involved in sport – for example around skills or fitness or accessing a court or club. at the event in eight years.

“Winning Sydney is one of my highlights of this year and really helped to kick start what’s been the best season of my career so far,” Konta said.

Muller’s Sydney win began a breakout year for the Austrian, who reached the semi-finals at Queens and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

Verdasco, a semi-finalist at last week’s Paris Masters event, will be returning to Sydney for the sixth time.

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GAMES of backyard footy were a little more willing than most in the Sims household.

But oldest-of-five Ruan credits the epic battles with her siblings – including future NRL forwards Tariq, Ashton and Korbin – for the competitive spirit that sparked her remarkable rugby league career.

Sims added to her already impressive resumé when she was named Jillaroos co-captain for the women’s Rugby League World Cup on Wednesday, along with retiring duo Steph Hancock and Renae Kunst.

Australia face a mighty challenge attempting to defend their crown in the six team tournament starting on November 16 in Cronulla, with three-time Cup winners New Zealand, traditional powerhouse England and dark horses Canada standing in their way.

But it is nothing compared to what Sims stared down growing up. The self-confessed league nut thought it was a good idea to organise backyard contests with her three brothers and sister Canecia.

Then her brothers starting growing. And growing.

Ashton is now a 193cm, 111kg forward playing in the English Super League.

Korbin turns out for the Brisbane Broncos, stands 189cm and tips the scales at 108kg, while Tariq is 193cm and 105kg and is at St George Illawarra. Still, Sims reckons she won a few one-on-one battles with the hulking trio.

“My parents were great building that healthy rivalry between us with those backyard games,” Sims said.

“That really helped give us that drive to be where we are today. And you’d be surprised at how many family arguments can be decided by a backyard game of footy.”

The Jillaroos open their title defence Thursday against the Cook Islands in a triple header.