Brisbane International Archives - Over The Walter Taylor Bridge

Ashleigh Barty Pledges Brisbane International Prize Money To Bushfire Victims

Donations have been overflowing for the victims of the devastating bushfire in Australia. As the emergencies continue to impact various communities, tennis superstar and World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has pledged all of her prize money from Brisbane International to help the affected families through the Australian Red Cross.

Ms Barty announced her donation during the WTA All-Access Hour press conference.

“We have been kind of sitting down and thinking and with my team, with my family and everything and trying to think of ways that we can help,” Ms Barty said.

“We have come to the decision that any of my prize money here in Brisbane will be donated to the Red Cross to go towards the families and homes that have been affected.”

The tennis champion said that she has been thinking about the bushfire victims since the devastation happened a few months ago

“The first I saw of it was actually flying home from the Fed Cup final from Perth back to the east coast of Australia and we could see some of the smoke and some of the fires from the plane. So that really hit home with me,” Ms Barty shared.

She went to a local RSPCA and donated $30,000 in November. However, with so much wildlife and people losing their homes, Ms Barty decided to do more.

Brisbane International began on Monday, the 6th of January and Ms Barty has also qualified for the Premier tournament the following week.

Other tennis players at the international tournament also pledged support for the victims. Samantha Stosur, Ellen Perez, Karolina Pliskova, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Nick Kyrgios, John Millman and Alex de Minaur have promised specific amounts for every aces hit, whilst others matched each other’s donations.

More funds for the bushfire victims are expected to be raised as the summer of tennis rolls, Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said. Part of the ticket sales of this tennis event will also go to relief efforts.

Venus Williams to Join Ashleigh Barty, Sam Stosur at Pat Rafter Arena for Brisbane International

A loaded line-up of top tier tennis players in the world is set to compete at the Brisbane International this January. Home favourite Ashleigh Barty will lead the tournament along with Venus Williams, Sam Stosur and at least 30 other tennis champions.

Brisbane International, an all-female tennis affair, will run from the 6th to the 12th of Jan 2020 at the Pat Rafter Arena in Tennyson. Ms William’s debut at the tournament was announced just days after the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed that its top three players — Ms Barty, Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) and Naomi Osaka (Japan) — will also be competing.

“After so many years on the tour, it is good to play at new tournaments and experience a different city. Brisbane International is always spoken of so highly among the WTA players and so I wanted to see it for myself,” Ms Williams said via the WTA.

Meanwhile, Ms Barty is primed to win her first Brisbane International, which is seen as the tournament that could prepare her for the Australian Open in Melbourne this year. She will be up against some heavy competition.

Also joining the current WTA champs are former Grand Slam winner and one of Australia’s tennis pride, Samantha Stosur. Emerging talent, Croatian-born Australian pro tennis star Ajla Tomljanović, will also serve at the event.

Other champs and rising stars competing in the tournaments are Petre Kvitova, Kiki Bertens, Johanna Konta, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber, Dayana Yastremska, Sofia Kenin, Karolina Muchova, Alison Riske, Maria Sakkari and Donna Veki.

“To be able to add Venus, Sam, Elina and Ajla to an already blockbuster field says a lot about the Brisbane International and the city as a destination to visit,” Brisbane International tournament director Mark Handley told the press.

“Players arrive here at the start of the season fresh from a well-earned rest and we are looking forward to showcasing the best of women’s tennis with the best match-ups at the Queensland Tennis Centre.”

Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson to Host ATP Cup and Brisbane International Beginning 2020

Beginning 2020, the Brisbane International — an annual professional tennis tournament held at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson — will have a new format, as Brisbane secures the rights to the all-new ATP Cup.

The best international players will continue coming back to Brisbane every year and draw local and international fans with the introduction of the new ATP Cup men’s team competition. Featuring teams from 24 countries, the ATP Cup will be played over ten days in the lead to the Australian Open across three cities: Brisbane, Sydney, and a yet to be named third Australian city.

Alongside the ATP Cup men’s team event, the Brisbane International will continue as an elite women’s competition. Brisbane will host key preliminary rounds of the new men’s team competition with the finals to be held in Sydney.

“The iconic Brisbane International attracts tens of thousands of visitors and injects close to $10 million into the state’s economy each year,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“The ATP Cup will have a bigger international following ensuring we continue to attract tennis fans from around the country and the world to Brisbane to cheer on their favourite players.

“On top of that, the Brisbane International will continue to host the world’s best female players at Tennyson which will be the only women’s tennis event in Australia that week which means we’ll see the best action on court right here in Brisbane,” the Premier said.

The new ATP Cup is expected to attract more high-profile players from around the globe with more prize money and higher ranking points.

“In 2020, the Brisbane International will continue to grow with the world’s best male tennis players beginning their season in Brisbane in the all new ATP Cup which will see the players teaming up to represent their country for a share in 750 ATP Ranking points and $15m USD in prize money,” Tennis Australia Head of Major Events – Cameron Pearson said

The ATP Cup is scheduled to begin in 3 January 2020.

Tennis Fans With Pre-purchased Tickets Get to Travel Free to the Brisbane International 2019 to be Held in Tennyson

Tennis fans who have pre-purchased tickets for the Brisbane International 2019 will get to enjoy free rides, to and from the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson.

Pre-purchased ticket holders could travel for free on Queensland Rail city network trains, Transport for Brisbane buses, and dedicated shuttle buses, according to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey.

“Some of the best players in the world, including seven Grand Slam champions, will be on court and they are certain to draw huge support,” Mr Bailey said.

“I recommend spectators leave the car at home and enjoy a hassle-free visit on public transport.”

“The shuttle buses will run from Corinda train station to the Queensland Tennis Centre at a 20-minute frequency from 45 minutes before gates open until after the last match each night,” he said.

For Gold Coast line trains in both directions, there will be an additional stop at Yeerongpilly train station outside peak times.

“Yeerongpilly train station is less than a 15-minute walk to the Queensland Tennis Centre for customers travelling by train,” Mr Bailey said.

About Brisbane International

The Brisbane International is a professional tennis tournament established in 2009. The tournament is held every year at the Queensland Tennis Centre as part of the Australian Open Series, just before the first of the Grand Slam tournaments.

The Countdown is ON | Brisbane International 2018

Video Credit: Brisbane International / YouTube

The 2018 Brisbane International was held 31 December 2017 – 7 January 2018. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated Ryan Harrison (USA) for the Men’ Singles. Whilst, Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) emerged victorious over Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) for the Women’s Singles.

Henri Kontinen (Finland) and John Peers (Aus) won the Men’s Doubles against Leonardo Mayer and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. The Women’s Doubles was won, on the other hand, by Kiki Bertens and Demi Schuurs of The Netherlands against the duo of Andreja Klepač (Slovenia) and María José Martínez Sánchez (Spain)

The Brisbane International 2019 happens on 30 December 2018 – 6 January 2019 at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson.

For more information about the tournament, you may visit their website.

To plan your trip to the venue, visit the TRANSLink website here.

Queensland Tennis Centre | 190 King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson QLD 4105, Australia

Yeerongpilly Green Opens Pedestrian Link in Time for Brisbane International

Tennis fans looking forward to the upcoming Brisbane International in December 2018 will have a much easier transport after the Yeerongpilly Green opened its public parks and pedestrian ‘spine.’

Yeerongpilly Green is an $850-million master-planned development that will incorporate residential, retail, commercial and lifestyle spaces. The Queensland Government has put in $30 million in investment for community infrastructure and green space for the urban renewal precinct.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said that the State Government contribution is important in realising a community where the architecture is inspired by the landscape.

“The pedestrian walkway provides a perfect link from the train station through the site, creating a direct route to the Queensland Tennis Centre, Ken Fletcher Park and Tennyson Reach,” he said.

“This enhanced connectivity between Pat Rafter Arena and the railway station is going to make getting to and from the Brisbane International so much easier.

“Around 90,000 people attend this great tournament over its seven days, so this infrastructure is really vital to managing the masses and growing the event further.”

Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley applauded the opening of the Yeerongpilly Green and the pedestrian spine, which will redefine the journey of tennis fans as they get off the train.

“Whether people are attending the Brisbane International, or just visiting the Queensland Tennis Centre throughout the year, their walk towards the iconic Pat Rafter Arena will now be so much more, with restaurants and social spaces enhancing the experience,” Mr Handley said.

“The beautification of the Yeerongpilly precinct makes it an even more attractive pocket of Brisbane for residents, families, and everyone using the tennis centre.”

Brisbane’s Next Lifestyle Village

Yeerongpilly Green promises to be the city’s next lifestyle village. Perfectly positioned near Tennyson, Graceville, Chelmer and Sherwood, the urban village is within reach of the best attractions and facilities in the city.

The community will be surrounded by various parks specialty retail establishments to create a laidback village atmosphere. Once completed, Yeerongpilly Green will have 3,000 new homes and a varied line-up of commercial, including a boutique hotel.

At the centre of the development is the 2.4 hectares of parkland and open space. The pedestrian and cycle network provides an interesting link between the new precinct to the Yeerongpilly Station to the tennis centre.

“People now have a fantastic space to enjoy, on their way to the tennis centre or experiencing the restaurants, parks, playgrounds, and future apartments and offices of Yeerongpilly Green,” Member for Miller Mark Bailey stressed.