The Australian Open Tennis Trophy Tour hit Perth yesterday with four West Coast superstars trading their footy boots for tennis racquets to help mark the occasion.
It is the first time the Trophy Tour has visited Perth and to welcome the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup (men’s trophy) and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup (women’s trophy) a group of local junior tennis MLC Hotshots showcased their skills against Eagles Andrew Embley, Beau Waters, Ash Hansen and Josh Kennedy .
The Trophy Tour is scheduled to visit at least 12 host destinations throughout Australia including regional areas as well as capital cities, with fans given the opportunity to have their photo taken with the trophies before they are presented to the 2011 Australian Open champions.
While West Coast premiership player Embley admitted his talent on the footy field did not crossover to the tennis court, he was quick to praise his pint-sized opponents and the MLC Tennis Hotshots program.
‘The Hotshots program that has been set up over here is very similar to the Auskick program that we have. It’s all about development for junior players and it would be fantastic to see one of these kids playing for one of these trophies one day,’ he said.
Following the Perth visit, the trophies will head to Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast,Rockhampton and Bendigo before finishing their journey at Melbourne Park on January 17, dayone of Australian Open 2011.
