Star-studded Australian team prepare for tennis Worlds

By Tennis Australia

Tennis Australia have announced the players to represent their country at the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Tennis World Championships.

To be held in Paris, France, from 14-22 July the Championships will bring together the best players from around the world.

The Australian team includes current world champion Archie Graham (men’s singles), Kelly Wren and Carla Lenarduzzi (women’s doubles) and Wren and Damian Phillips (mixed doubles).

Queensland’s Graham will be vying for his fourth consecutive world singles title having won in 2015, 2016 and 2017. New South Wales’ Kelly Wren will be looking for singles title number seven.  Wren won six consecutive titles before losing the last two to Belgium’s Hanna Lavreysen.

Between them Wren and Graham have amassed 25 World Championship titles across the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events as well as numerous team titles. Wren on her own has a personal tally of 19 titles.

Graham will turn 25 during the Championships with the possibility of celebrating another gold on his birthday.

The 2018 Australian team will include all members of the winning team from the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tennis World Championships in Bolton, Great Britain.

Australia have dominated the competition for many years. With the exception of Queensland’s Joshua Holloway all team members have experienced winning a World Championships. Holloway has two silver medals and a bronze to his name, and as the current Australian doubles champion (with partner Mitchell James) will be hoping to capture that elusive gold in Paris.

The Australian team leave for France on 13 July following a two day training camp in Brisbane.

Full team

Men
Archie Graham (QLD – Newtown
Mitchell James (QLD – Burpengary)
Joshua Holloway (QLD – Rockhampton)
Damian Phillips (NSW – Coffs Harbour)

Women
Kelly Wren (NSW – Engadine)
Carla Lenarduzzi (VIC – Camberwell)

Head Coach – Alison Scott (Brisbane)
Manager – Jay Schuback (Melbourne)

The 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tennis World Championships will take place as part of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport European Summer Games, organised by World Intellectual Impairment Sport Europe. Featuring nine sports, the cycling Worlds will also take place.