The Drive have pulled off a major recruiting coup after naming rising star Thanasi Kokkinakis in their successfully nominated Asia Pacific Tennis League (ATL) team. Kokkinakis who has risen up the rankings throughout 2014 after his Australian Open appearance in January to currently sit at world number 184 will play for The Drive in the 2014 South West ATL which is to be made up of men’s and women’s teams from South Australia and Western Australia to make up the first South West Conference in ATL history.
“This is a great pick up for the team and the profile of the ATL, and we are really excited to have Thanasi on board” said team coach Luke Smith.
Kokkinakis will use the ATL as preparation for a big Australian summer and will be joined in the Drive team by fellow Aussie professional Ryan Agar and Japanese young gun Yuya Ito.
2013 SA ATL Conference Women’s Champion, Flagstaff Freighters, are again headlining the women’s line up. The Freighters have retained Jess Moore and Viktorija Rajicic, and have been bolstered by Western Australia’s Bojana Bobusic.
“I am really looking forward to again being part of this great team and hopefully we can again progress to the finals in Melbourne” said top level women’s player, Jess Moore.
As strong as the Freighters are, they will not have it all their own way with The Drive submitting the strongest women’s team they have ever put together. The Drive have recruited South African Chanel Simmonds, who has a career high ranking of 158, and will also bring in Simmonds’ country woman Michelle Sammonds to build some genuine top level strength.
Teams have now been confirmed however they are able to add to their list until the October 17 deadline. For all current team lists and more information on the ATL please click here
Asia Pacific Tennis League – South West Conference fixture (SA only)
· Round one – Saturday 22 November, venue and match time TBC for all matches
· Round two – Sunday 23 November
· Round three – Monday 24 November
· Round four – Friday 28 November
· Round five – Saturday 29 November
· Round six – Sunday 30 November
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