Abigail waves winning PNG flag in Toowoomba
Photo: Bev Lacey
Photo: Contributed
TENNIS: Abigail Tere-Apisah likes nothing more than playing tennis, forming friendships and experiencing different cultures and this week she gets to mix all three during her second Toowoomba visit.
Tere-Apisah (pictured) is one of 64 female and male hopefuls in the city this week trying to climb up the world tennis ladder with success at the 2018 Hutchinson Builders Toowoomba International.
And yesterday the Papua New Guinea-born 26-year-old began her stay in style with a 6-1, 6-4 first-round win over French opponent Marine Partaud as the tournament continues unfolding at Toowoomba Regional Tennis Centre USQ.
Tere-Apisah is one of 50 athletes from 19 foreign countries competing at this week’s tournament in search of a healthy prize-money cheque and valuable Pro Tour ranking points.
Great Britain heads the international player list with 10, followed by Japan (9) and USA (8).
Tere-Apisah was a Toowoomba singles’ quarter-finalist last year when she also won through to the doubles’ final with playing partners Naiktha Bains of Australia, who she teams with again this year.
But after a recent run of tournament outs, Tere-Apisah welcomed yesterday’s turnaround in singles’ fortunes.
“That is my first round-one win for quite a while,” said Tere-Apishah whose 2018 tour commitments have taken her to countries including Great Britain and the US.
“But I got my groove back today which was good.
“My main goal is to focus on a process and not think too far ahead.”
Tere-Apisah is Sydneybased after following in the tennis footsteps of her parents who now coach tennis in PNG where it remains a minnow sport.
“I love playing, especially doubles, which is fun,” TereApisah said.
“You also get to meet some amazing people in tennis and I love learning all the different cultures we experience along the way.”
In other women’s round-one matches Baines added to the positive tournament start for Aussie women with a 6-7, 6-2, 6-1 over India’s Rutuja Bhosale.
Men’s top-seed Maverick Banes overcame an early scare from fellow Australian Lucas Vuradin before progressing 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Last year’s beaten Toowoomba finalist Astra Sharma cruised past American Shelby Talcott 6-1, 6-2.
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