Leanne Baker (pictured) is this week playing in the US$50,000 event at Troy, Alabama.

In singles she was beaten in the second round of qualifying after scoring a straight set win over an American opponent in the first round.

In doubles Baker and Francesca Lubiani, of Italy are the third seeds in the main draw and face a qualifying pair in the first round.

Baker has a current WTA world doubles ranking of 121.

Last week Baker and Lubiani reached the doubles semis of the US$25,000 event at Pelham, Alabama losing to an American pair in a third set tiebreak.

Mark Nielsen and Rubin Statham (pictured) have had first round wins at the US$15,000 Futures event at Kawana, on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

As the sixth seed Nielsen beat British qualifier Myles Blake 6-0 6-3 to set up a match against wildcard Scott Doerner of Australia in the second round.

Statham was up against veteran Australian and eighth seed Luke Bourgeois who has a ranking of 444 compared to the 667 of the Kiwi. Statham won by a score of 6-2 with his opponent then retiring hurt.

Statham now takes on German Gero Kretschme. In doubles Statham and partner Katsushi Fukuda of Japan were beaten in the first round by the top seeds.

Last week Statham reached the quarter-finals of the Brisbane US$15,000 men's Futures.

2006 Davis Cup

New Zealand has drawn Lebanon as its first round opponent in Davis Cup next year.

The Kiwi team have been awarded a home time for their clash with Lebanon in the first round of Asia/Oceania Group 2, February 10-12, 2006 at a yet to be decided venue.

New Zealand has won on its two previous occasions against Lebanon. The first being in 1957 at Beirut in the Europe Group first round where the Kiwi team of Lew Gerrad, Corbett Parker and Jeff Robson scored a 5-0 victory.

The second was a 3-2 win in the Asia/Oceania round 1 in 1998 in Beiruit. The New Zealand team was Alistair Hunt, Mark Nielsen, Teo Susnjak and James Greenhalgh with Jeff Simpson as captain.

If New Zealand wins it will play either Kuwait or Kazakhstan away in April 2006.

Kia Motors international sponsors of the BNP Davis Cup
Take a look at their website

The International Tennis Federation and the ATP announced this week that, from the start of 2006, the ITF will manage, administrate and enforce the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme at ATP-sanctioned events. The ITF Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is fully compliant with the WADA Code. 

The ITF will be responsible for testing at the ATP Masters Series events, ATP International Series Gold and International Series events, Challenger Events and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup, co-owned by the ATP, Grand Slams and the ITF. The ITF currently tests at the Grand Slams, Davis Cup and Fed Cup, ITF Men's Circuit and Women's Circuit Events and at junior and wheelchair tennis events under its aegis.   

The agreement between the ATP and the ITF extends through 2010 and includes at least 600 tests at ATP events annually in addition to the 500 tests on male players at events under ITF jurisdiction. The cases will be managed by the ITF from the beginning of the process (sample collection) to the finish including any appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Tests will be distributed by player ranking, event type and geographical location. 

History of the Anti-Doping Programme

· Drug testing conducted by the Men's Tennis Council began in the late 1980s and focused on recreational drugs
· When the ATP Tour was formed in 1990, the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuit extended the testing to include performance-enhancing drugs
· The ITF and WTA Tour also had comprehensive anti-doping Programmes, and in 1993 the three bodies created a joint anti-doping Programme that covered the whole of tennis.
· In-competition testing was conducted at 36 professional tennis events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP and WTA Tour in 2004. More than 1,000 tests were conducted on male players, with a total of 474 different players tested. The top 10 players were tested an average of 6.3 times during the year.
· The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme will conduct more than 1,500 doping control tests in 2005 both in-competition and out-of-competition.
 
For full details click here

New Training Venue in Asia

The new International Tennis Centre at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in the Philippines provides the opportunity for players and coaches to conduct preparatory training camps. This new venue has eleven international standard tennis courts, four covered courts, six outdoor show courts and is also in close proximity to three clay courts and ten outdoor-hard courts.

This centre is operated and managed by the Subis Bay Sports Management Incorporated.
For more information visit the Subic Bay website
 

Congratulations to former New Zealand No.1 Shelley Bryce (nee Stephens) (pictured) and partner Jeffrey Bryce on the birth of their first child - Carlos Dries Bryce last week.

TCNZ Position

TENNIS COACHES NEW ZEALAND (TCNZ)
Administrator - Part Time

TCNZ is an incorporated society responsible for approximately 100 tennis coaches in New Zealand.
The association will provide the successful applicant with the necessary office equipment required. The location of the successful applicant is flexible and would suit someone wishing to work from home.

For full application details click here

Coca-Cola Auckland Championships 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8
3-7 October
Vodafone Tennis Park, Manukau Tennis Centre, ASB Bank Tennis Centre
Auckland
(09) 528 3925 Email
Auckland Tennis

Canterbury Spring Open 16, 14, 12, 10, 8
"18 Super Series"
3-8 October
Scenic Circle Hotels Tennis Centre
Wilding Park, Woodham Rd
Christchurch
(03) 389 6484 Ext 229 Email
Canterbury Tennis

Wellington Slazenger Spring Tournament 16, 14, 12, 10
"18 Super Series"
3-7 October
Renouf Tennis Centre Brooklyn Rd,
Brooklyn Wellington
(04) 384 7343 Email
Wellington Tennis

Norfolk Island Open
12-15 October
Cheryl Tennis Club of Norfolk Island
Entries & Info Ph:0066 723-22966
Email Tony
Travel packages available Email Debbie

NZ Funds IC Trans-Tasman Cup 2005
15, 16, 17 October
Melbourne, Australia

Wellington Labour Weekend Tournament 16, 14, 12, 10
22-24 October
Renouf Tennis Centre Brooklyn Rd,
Brooklyn Wellington
(04) 384 7343 Email
Wellington Tennis

Counties Open Junior Tournament 16, 14, 12, 10
22-24 October
Turners & Growers Complex Rosa Birch Park,
West St, Pukekohe
(09) 238 4460 Email

Mid Canterbury Championships 16, 14, 12, 10
22-24 October
Ashburton Trust Tennis Centre
Oak Grove, Ashburton
(03) 389 5205
Mid Canterbury Tennis

WBOP Tournament 18, 16, 14, 12, 10
22-24 October
Gate Pa Tennis Club
Rimu St, Tauranga
(07) 578 9236 Email

Taranaki Junior Open 16, 14, 12, 10
22-24 October
Pukekura Park Tennis Courts
Upjohn St, New Plymouth
(06) 274 8682
Taranaki Tennis

Jerry Clayton BMW Over 40s Doubles Tournament
30 October
Takapuna Tennis Club
Bracken Ave, Takapuna Auckland
Email
Tournament Page

Hagley Park Open Day Postponed

Due to weather the Hagley Park Tennis Club open day has been postponed until Wednesday 12th October.
For all enquiries Email
Check out the Hagley Park Tennis Club website