Game, set, match
Toowoomba International claims fifth straight award win
TENNIS: The formula for success at the Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International is simple.
It is however a formula that works with the tennis tournament claiming its fifth straight Queensland Tennis Most Outstanding Tournament award at the weekend.
Tournament co-ordinator Allen Smythe credits the event’s long-term success to a desire to provide tennis fans with a high-quality tournament and ensuring the players involved are at ease and able to enjoy themselves.
“We like to make sure the players can enjoy themselves,” Smythe said.
“If they’re enjoying themselves they play good tennis and the fans can see that.
“It’s also important to us the community is involved. It (the tournament) is a chance for them to watch high-quality tennis right in their own backyard and we try to involve them as much as we can over the eight or nine days of the tournament.”
Smythe said the excitement of winning for a fifth time was no less than the first time.
“It’s still exciting every time we win,” he said.
“It’s nice to be noticed and appreciated. It’s great for everyone involved.
“A lot of hard work goes into the event. We have a hard working team of volunteers and officials and this award acknowledges their work.”
Award winners are selected by a panel of Queensland Tennis officials, volunteers and other people involved in the sport.
The Toowoomba International’s latest win is for its 2016 tournament as nominations close in September each year. Tennis legend John Fitzgerald, who was involved in promoting last year’s event, said it was a credit to Toowoomba and a vital stepping stone for Australia’s rising tennis stars.