TA Press Release, October 16, 2018
Former Australian player Casey Dellacqua and Tennis SA National Academy Head Coach Milo Bradley will lead Adelaide’s Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Canberra’s Annerly Poulos when they represent Australia at the WTA Future Stars in Singapore this week.
The WTA Future Stars event features 36 of the best junior players from 18 Asia-Pacific countries. They will compete over six days, from 16 to 21 October, in 16/u and 14/u age categories.
Former world No.26, Grand Slam mixed doubles champion and seven-time Grand Slam doubles finalist Dellacqua is looking forward to working with the girls in Singapore.
“I’m really excited about working with Charlotte and Annerly for the WTA Future Stars, the girls have both performed well throughout the year to secure their spots in the team,” Dellacqua said.
“The program is a great opportunity for our young players to learn, train and play alongside some of the world’s best players.
“Having that experience is second to none, these girls are the next generation of Australian tennis and I’m really excited about working with them and mentoring them over the next couple of weeks.”
Fifteen-year-old Poulos was awarded the opportunity after a breakout year on the junior circuit finishing as Australia’s top 16-and-under girl.
She claimed three consecutive ITF junior singles titles, two ITF junior doubles titles, represented Australia at Junior Fed Cup and competed in her first junior Grand Slam at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Similarly, 14-year-old Kempenaers-Pocz has had a strong 2018 and is currently the top 14-and-under girl in Australia.
Kempenaers-Pocz represented Australia at the ITF World Junior Tennis competition and at just 14 made an ITF junior singles final, semifinal and two quarterfinals. She has also been a finalist in two junior ITF doubles events.
The WTA Future Stars event will take place alongside the elite season-ending WTA Finals, where the world’s top female players including Australian Open 2018 champion Caroline Wozniacki and runner up Simona Halep will compete for the final title of the year.
Australia’s top-ranked player Ashleigh Barty (Qld) earned a place in the doubles field and will team up with American Coco Vandeweghe. Barty and Vandeweghe enjoyed a successful year, claiming two doubles titles together including the US Open.
As well as having the opportunity to play on centre court at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, the WTA Future Stars competitors will join their idols at the WTA Finals draw ceremony and player party.
For more information about the event, draw and schedule please visit https://www.wtafinals.com/players/wta-future-stars.
