Looking for a fresh and exciting way to stay active while meeting new people? Team Brisbane Tennis (TBT) offers a fun and inclusive space where LGBTQIA+ players and allies can enjoy the sport in a supportive environment.
Based at the Queensland Tennis Centre (QTC) in Tennyson, this welcoming club is perfect for those eager to hit the courts and connect with a vibrant community.
A Community-Focused Tennis Club
Photo credit: Team Brisbane Tennis/Facebook
TBT is more than just a tennis club—it’s a place where players of all skill levels can come together and feel at home. Whether you’re picking up a racquet for the first time or have years of experience, the club offers a relaxed, friendly setting where everyone is encouraged to participate.
As a club committed to inclusivity, TBT provides both social and competitive playing opportunities, ensuring that members can get involved in a way that suits them. And with QTC as its main venue, players have access to some of Brisbane’s best courts right in the heart of Tennyson.
Regular Play and Local Sessions
Photo credit: Team Brisbane Tennis/Facebook
TBT hosts regular tennis sessions at QTC, giving Tennyson and nearby residents a chance to connect with like-minded players. The club also runs additional sessions at Griffith Tennis Centre in Mount Gravatt on Monday and Wednesday nights, as well as special play opportunities during major tournaments at Morningside Tennis Centre.
A Major Tournament on Your Doorstep
Photo credit: Team Brisbane Tennis/Facebook
One of TBT’s biggest events is The Brisbane Open, an international LGBTQIA+ tennis tournament held at QTC. From 25–27 July 2025, nearly 200 players from around the world will gather in Tennyson for this prestigious event, showcasing skill, sportsmanship, and a sense of community.
For Tennyson locals, it’s a fantastic opportunity to watch high-level matches, meet players from across the globe, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of an inclusive sporting event right in their neighbourhood.
If you’re looking for a great way to play, meet new people, and enjoy top-tier facilities in Tennyson, Team Brisbane Tennis is the perfect choice. Grab your racquet and join the action today! For session times, skill levels, and fees, visit TBT’s website.
Emerson Jones, the junior world No. 1 and Queensland Tennis Centre standout, saw her Australian Open dreams dashed in the girls’ singles semi-finals, where comparisons to Ash Barty only underscored the weight of expectations.
Emerson fell short in her quest for the Australian Open girls’ singles title, losing 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals to Japan’s Wakana Sonobe last 25 January 2025. Playing on the courts where she hoped to replicate Barty’s grand slam success, Emerson struggled to find her rhythm against the fourth seed, whose powerful first serve and consistent baseline play kept the young Queenslander on the defensive throughout the 74-minute match.
Nonetheless, Emerson showed flashes of brilliance, including saving a match point with a stunning backhand return, but ultimately couldn’t mount the comeback she managed in her quarter-final victory. Sonobe, who hit 25 winners to Jones’s 13, capitalised on an early break in both sets to maintain control and seal her spot in the final. While the loss marked a setback, Emerson remains in contention for the doubles title alongside Great Britain’s Hannah Klugman, providing her with an opportunity to end her Australian Open campaign on a high note.
Rising Star from Tennyson
At just 16 years old, Emerson is turning heads as Australia’s junior world No. 1, training at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson and drawing inevitable comparisons to Barty for her composure, versatility, and potential to redefine Australian tennis.
As the youngest Australian to claim the junior world No. 1 ranking since Jelena Dokic in 1998, Emerson has caught the attention of the international tennis community while staying grounded in her Gold Coast roots.
The Making of a Champion
For Emerson, tennis is more than a game—it’s a family commitment. Her parents, former AFL Queensland star Brad Jones and Olympic silver medallist triathlete Loretta Harrop, have shaped her journey with their shared ethos of discipline and resilience. The family built a townhouse in Brisbane, close to the Queensland Tennis Centre, to support her grueling training schedule, reducing the long commute from their Gold Coast home.
Her weekly routine at the Tennyson facility is a masterclass in dedication. Mornings begin with gym work, followed by hours of drilling her signature backhand and relentless baseline rallies. After school on-site, she’s back on the court for another 90 minutes of focused practice. The Queensland Tennis Centre, with its world-class infrastructure, has become a launchpad for Emerson’s budding career.
Her coach, David Taylor, who previously guided Sam Stosur to the 2011 US Open title, sees remarkable potential in Emerson. Mr Taylor’s experience has helped refine her aggressive style of play, making her a fierce competitor on the junior circuit.
Her 2024 season was a breakout year, marked by finals appearances at the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior tournaments. She achieved the world No. 1 junior ranking shortly after, a milestone that few Australians have reached. Despite the accolade, Emerson admitted that the ranking initially felt overshadowed by her third-round loss at the US Open. However, her family reminded her to celebrate the milestone, with a pistachio gelato outing arranged by her brother, Hayden, also a top-ranked junior player.
Entering 2025, Emerson has already made her mark on the professional stage. At the Adelaide International, she stunned world No. 37 Wang Xinyu in a straight-sets victory during her WTA main draw debut. Reflecting on the match, Emerson said she felt no pressure and simply aimed to play her best, a testament to her composed mindset.
While tennis remains her central focus, the teenager is deeply connected to her community. Her time at the Gold Coast is spent surfing and enjoying the company of her best friend who lives nearby. This balance, her mother believes, is crucial to her success. Loretta often draws on her own experiences as an elite athlete to guide her daughter, helping her navigate the mental challenges of competitive sport.
Emerson’s family plays an integral role in shielding her from the pressures of being labelled “the next Ash Barty.” While the comparisons are inevitable, Emerson prefers to focus on her own path. She has sought advice from Ms Barty herself, particularly ahead of her Wimbledon final last year. For the teen, Ms Barty’s journey is inspiring, but she remains determined to forge her unique legacy.
Barty celebrated Emerson Jones’s rise in tennis but resisted comparisons to her own career. Speaking at Emirates’ Women in Sport day, the three-time Grand Slam champion said, “She won’t be the next me, she’ll be the first Emerson.”
Barty highlighted Jones’s exceptional potential as one of the finest emerging talents in tennis and shared how her own early experiences taught valuable lessons that shaped her future success.
At the Australian Open, Emerson competed as a wildcard in the women’s main draw but faced a tough opening-round defeat against Elena Rybakina. However, in the junior competition, she has battled her way to the semifinals, showcasing the resilience that has defined her career so far. With the support of the Queensland Tennis Centre and her family, Emerson is poised to take her game to the next level.
For the young star, tennis is about winning and finding joy in the game and staying connected to her community. Whether she’s practicing on the Tennyson courts or representing Australia on the world stage, Emerson Jones embodies the promise of a bright future for Australian tennis.
Rising Australian tennis star Max Purcell has voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension after revealing he unknowingly received a vitamin infusion above the permitted limit—ruling him out of the Australian Open in Tennyson.
The two-time doubles grand slam champion, who clinched the 2024 US Open title with Jordan Thompson, approached the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after discovering medical records showing an IV infusion exceeded the 100ml limit set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“This news was devastating to me because I pride myself on being an athlete who always makes sure that everything is WADA safe,” Purcell wrote in an Instagram statement, explaining he had specifically instructed the medical clinic about his professional athlete status and the requirement to stay below the limit.
Max Purcell misses out on the Brisbane International
Effective 12 December, the provisional suspension excludes Purcell from competing in major tournaments like the Brisbane International and the Australian Open. The 26-year-old, who reached a career-high singles ranking of No.40 and has accumulated more than $7.35m in prize money, faces a potential two-year ban.
Brisbane International tournament director Cam Pearson expressed surprise at the development, stating on Tuesday, “I’ve only seen the reports. I understand Max has entered a voluntary suspension period. It’s under investigation so it’s inappropriate to comment any more.”
Tennis Australia acknowledged the situation in a statement, emphasising that the breach relates to the use of a “prohibited method” rather than the presence of a prohibited substance.
Wider context of tennis doping cases
Purcell’s case emerges amid ongoing controversies involving world-class players Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek. Sinner, who tested positive for clostebol, successfully argued contamination through contact with his physiotherapist’s medication, though WADA has since appealed the “no fault” decision. Swiatek served a one-month ban after traces of trimetazidine (TMZ) were found in her system, attributed to contaminated melatonin medication.
The varying treatments of these cases have prompted discussion within the tennis community about consistency in anti-doping enforcement. While Purcell’s voluntary disclosure may work in his favour, the final decision on his suspension length remains with the ITIA.
During his provisional suspension, Purcell is barred from playing, coaching, or attending any tennis events sanctioned by ITIA members, including major governing bodies and grand slam organisations.
