URGENT: COVID Sydney Badge

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As most of you would have heard at 11am, the NSW Government has extended the Sydney lockdown for another week. Tennis NSW in consultation with the Badge Panel has made the decision to cancel round 10 matches of the Saturday Badge competition on Saturday 10th July. The matches will be marked as a washout with both teams sharing the points.

As Thursday Ladies Badge have not missed a round yet, round 11 will be postponed until Thursday 12th August.

At this stage the Sydney Badge competition will resume play with round 11 on Saturday 17th July. Round 9 of the Saturday Badge competition will still be postponed until Saturday 14th August. Thursday Ladies Badge will resume play with round 12 on the 22nd July as per the fixtures. This is obviously subject to change pending COVID-19 restrictions.

This also means that the finals for Saturday Badge will now be played on 21st and 28th of August and Thursday Ladies Badge will now be played on the 19th and 26th August.

All of the most up to date Covid-19 information can be found at the link below.

https://nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

Good luck to all teams and stay safe.
Kind Regards,
TNSW Competitions

COVID Mandatory lockdown extended​

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Today the NSW Government has announced extensions to the current stay-at-home order. These restrictions are place until midnight, Friday 16 July.

Everyone in Greater Sydney must stay home unless you have a reasonable excuse. The reasons you may leave your home include:

* shopping for food or other essential goods and services
* medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact)
* exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer
* essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.
Online learning for local schools

Learning will be online for schools and students in Greater Sydney, including the Northern Beaches, from Tuesday, 13 July for four days. Schools will remain open for students who need them and no child will be turned away from school.

All students will return to the classroom on Monday, 19 July.

Read more

MTC Competitions-Term 3: COVID Update

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Entries for Term 3 Closing.

We are waiting to hear whether COVID restrictions will be lifted on Friday.

We will immediately update our web site when an update is available.

Hoping we can start all comps next week as scheduled.

Entries are closing this week. Sign up on the web via link below.

Reserve players always welcome.  For more information, please contact or email Scott.

Scott Blackburn
MTC Tennis Director & Head Pro

Viktor Troicki Retires From Professional Tennis | ATP Tour

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The abiding memory of Viktor Troicki is delivering for Serbia. Whether it was being held aloft on the shoulders of his compatriots, who rushed onto court at the Belgrade Arena in celebration of clinching the 2010 Davis Cup crown or, 10 years later, when he partnered Novak Djokovic in the deciding doubles match against Spain to capture the inaugural ATP Cup title.

The 35-year-old, who officially announces his retirement from professional tennis, transformed into a world-beater in international team competitions, moving out of the shadows of his childhood friends Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic, during a golden age for Serbian tennis.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” Troicki told ATPTour.com this week. “I am happy with what I achieved and I lived my dream with friends since childhood. I achieved things I never thought I could, but I want to enjoy some time at home now with my family.”

Troicki came mightily close to a place in the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings during the European clay swing in 2011 and won three ATP Tour singles titles, plus two doubles trophies. But nothing compared to his emotions after he struck a crosscourt backhand return winner to beat France’s Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in the deciding rubber of the 2010 Davis Cup final. Watched by 17,000 fans in Belgrade, it gave him “the greatest experience of my life”.

World No. 1 Djokovic paid tribute to Troicki, telling ATPTour.com this week, “Congratulations on your career. It’s a sad day for all of us who know you. We’ve been friends for a very long time, since [we were] eight years old [and] played so many matches against each other in Serbia. We travelled so much, played doubles [together], won [the] ATP Cup and Davis Cup and had some unforgettable memories on the Tour and the court.

“It’s been an incredible journey to witness your career as your friend, colleague and compatriot. Your commitment for the Serbian tennis team has been incredible, unprecedented and you’ve been a great inspiration for many generations of young tennis players in Serbia… You should be proud of everything you’ve achieved.”

Troicki, who dreamed of playing important matches as a child, worked for everything he achieved. When he partnered Djokovic to a deciding doubles match victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez in the 2020 ATP Cup final, Troicki became the first player to win each of the three men’s team competition titles (also two World Team Cup titles in 2009 and 2012 at the Rochusclub in Dusseldorf).

“I won two World Team Cups in Dusseldorf, the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup, so I’m really proud,” said Troicki. “Winning the Davis Cup in 2010, in front of a home crowd, in the deciding rubber was crazy. I will take it with me forever.”

In tribute to his good friend, Tipsarevic told ATPTour.com this week, “Congratulations on an unbelievable career. It was an honour for me to share all of the downs and the ups, especially the ups of your career. You’ve reached the top of our sport and I’m sure that in the continuation of your life, with the same attitude and the same spirit that you had on a tennis court, you will reach new heights.”

Former doubles World No. 1 Nenad Zimonjic told ATPTour.com, “He had a great career, reaching No. 12, being a part of the Davis Cup team and winning the deciding rubber against France for the title. He should be proud of his career and I wish him all the best in the future. We have a lot of great memories. He is 10 years younger than I am, and I try to help all of our players. Viktor was no exception. We also had the chance to win the Sofia title together in 2017.”Troicki’s parents scraped together money to give their son the best possible chance of tennis success during a period of economic uncertainty in Serbia. He came across Djokovic and Tipsarevic at junior tournaments in Serbia, before moving to train in Boca Raton, Florida, for two years as a teenager.

“I’ve known Novak since he was eight, meeting him in one of his first tournaments,” said Troicki. “We played each other in the second round, and I beat him nine games to love. Janko was two years older than me, and he accepted me like a brother. He always helped me to feel welcome, support me and gave me great advice.

“I was maybe not as gifted as some other players at my age, so I had to prove myself and to work even harder to make it and become a top player. I never gave up. It was great to travel, compete together and have such good friends.”

Out of the juniors that included a 2004 Wimbledon doubles final appearance with Robin Haase, Troicki came under the guidance of Jan de Witt. Troicki learned about self-discipline and how to work in a professional way from the German’s training base in Halle and formed a long-term partnership with fitness trainer Milos Jelisavcic.

“He had the ability to work day in and day out,” De Witt, Troicki’s coach from 2006 to 2012, told ATPTour.com. “He worked hard every day. He brought the physical strength and he had a good first serve. We made progress every year, No. 450 to 220, then at the end of the second year at No. 120, then 60, 30, 20 and close to the Top 10 in his best year. Initially, we worked a lot on his second serve, to win more points, and to win points on second serve return.

“He enjoyed the team environment in Halle, working with players like Marco Chiudinelli, Jarkko Nieminen and Ivan Dodig. He liked having people around him, taking the positives from it. All the Serbians are good team players. They are really proud to play for their country.

“When we started working to help him win the Davis Cup with his friends, and to be able to reach that dream in the deciding rubber, it was amazing. I learned from Viktor that as long as you work hard, there are no limitations. He did more in his career than I ever thought possible.”

www.atptour.com/en/news/troicki-retirement-tribute-june-2021

With an Early Win over de Minaur, Korda Advances His Father’s ‘Half-Crazy’ Plan

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Sebastian Korda celebrated match point against Alex de Minaur on Tuesday.

WIMBLEDON, England — Sebastian Korda watched from his father’s hotel room in London on Sunday night as his sister Nelly achieved a major dream, winning the Women’s P.G.A. Championship in Atlanta. Two days later, on a different sort of green, Sebastian kept the family business booming.

The 50th-ranked Korda beat the 15th-seeded Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(5) in three hours and 25 minutes in the first round of Wimbledon on Tuesday afternoon.

“Seeing Nelly achieve what she achieved, and how emotional she was, and how much hard work and passion she puts into it every single day, it’s super inspiring,” Korda said. “Hopefully I can keep playing some good tennis and stay a little longer here.”

The successes of the Korda family are coming rapidly, but they have been building for generations. Petr, the father, won the 1998 Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Regina Rajchrtova, the mother, was a top-30 tennis player who competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. In addition to Nelly, 22, winning her first major title on Sunday, sister Jessica, 28, qualified alongside her for a spot on the U.S. Olympic golf team.

Sebastian, who turns 21 next week, was playing his first match in the Wimbledon main draw, but showed little stage fright as he imposed his game and 6-foot-5 frame on de Minaur, who had won a warm-up event in Eastbourne, England, last weekend. “That’s what makes him dangerous: he hits big and plays very loose,” de Minaur said of Korda. “He’s going after it.”

Korda surged at the start of the match, breaking de Minaur in his opening service game. He had seven break points in the eighth game and could have closed out the set, but did not convert them. Rather than betray any disappointment, Korda smoothly served out the set in the next game, and then broke in the seventh game of the second set to take full control of the match.

“I could have made it go my way, but he stepped up to the plate and he delivered today,” de Minaur said. “All kudos to him.”

As much as his play impressed his opponent, Korda said that his father hadn’t held back on immediate constructive criticism after one of the biggest wins of his career. “My dad, he’s super happy, but he also sees the mistakes that I did during the match and he lets me know right away,” Korda said. “That’s probably one of the best things about my dad: He’s always pretty straightforward and he tells you how he is. He doesn’t sugarcoat it.”

Patricio Apey, who managed Petr Korda during his career and now manages his children as well, said that Petr had been guiding the careers of all three from a young age, expecting them to all peak simultaneously.

“As crazy as it sounds, Petr and I have been talking about this for like 12 years, to do these things together with the three kids,” Apey said. “I always say he’s half-genius and half-crazy, and it’s hard to differentiate between the two.”

ImageNelly Korda, left, and sister Jessica at the U.S. Women’s Open in San Francisco earlier this month.
Credit…Michael Owens for The New York Times

Comparing him to Richard Williams, who boastfully — and, in the end, accurately — predicted great successes for his young daughters Venus and Serena, Apey said Petr had been able to “map out the technical side” of the developments of all three of his children with long-term planning. That planning occasionally comes with short-term sacrifices: While Sebastian’s sisters will be representing the United States at the Tokyo Olympics later this month, he will miss the competition to prepare for the U.S. Open, focusing on smaller stateside tournaments that Apey described as “lower-hanging fruit.”

A similar decision was made earlier this year, when Korda skipped Australian Open qualifying to focus on Challenger-level tournaments in France. The move paid off with a title in Quimper, France, which Sebastian said had been inspired by Jessica winning her first L.P.G.A. title of the year the weekend before.

The Olympics decision, made Sunday evening, became tougher when it was clear that both his sisters would make the trip. Wherever Petr Korda’s children are competing, he manages to sync up with them, staying up late when his daughters are on the Asian swing of the golf circuit, or waking up early when his son is in Europe.

“I have no clue how they do it,” Sebastian said of his parents. “We’re all over the place.”

With an Early Win, Korda Advances His Father’s ‘Half-Crazy’ Plan
www.nytimes.com/2021/06/29/sports/tennis/wimbledon-sebastian-nelly-jessica-korda.html

MLTC Urgent update – Court Usage under Lockdown

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The Clubhouse will be closed for the duration of the lockdown, use the outside toilet if needed.
Players and members can still play by booking a court via Scott at the Manly Tennis Centre. (One hour for singles, 90 mins for doubles).
No Saturday and Midweek member social tennis as there is a ten person rule.
Players will need to supply their own balls as the Clubhouse will be closed.
Below is the latest information from Tennis NSW, I will send regular updates if things change.
Thanks
Virginia
Secretary MLTC
COVID-19 UPDATE TO NSW TENNIS COMMUNITY.
Further to the updated restrictions announced by the NSW government today (NSW health advice), Tennis NSW has taken the decision to cancel all Australian Ranking events across NSW from 6pm Saturday 26 June to 11.59pm Friday 9 July. This has impacted the following scheduled events:
Priceline Country Championships
3-6 July Newcastle AMT
3-6 July Gosford AMT
3-6 July Tennis Macarthur JT
7-10 July Wollongong JT
7-10 July Illawarra JT
9-12 July Hills AMT
9-12 July Tweed Heads AMT
In regards to coaching and community tennis, Tennis NSW is currently awaiting the publication of the revised Public Health Orders and advice from the Office of Sport around the definition of community sport and what this will means for coaching, club competition and group programming at a local club level. We will update the tennis community when we have this information.
Further information ?

COVID-19 restrictions extended in NSW until Friday 9 July

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Published: 26 Jun 2021 Released by: The Premier, Minister for Health and Medical Research

To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, current stay-at-home orders will be extended across all of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong from 6pm today (26 June) until 11.59pm Friday, 9 July.

Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the stay-at-home orders will apply to all people in the Greater Sydney area including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong.

Everyone in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason.

The reasons you may leave your home include:

  • Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;
  • Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);
  • Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;
  • Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

Community sport will not be permitted during this period. Weddings will not be permitted from 11.59pm, Sunday 27 June. Funerals will be limited to one person per four square metres with a cap of 100 people, and masks must be worn indoors.

In all other parts of NSW the following restrictions will apply:

  • People who have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong) on or after June 21 should follow the stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days after they left Greater Sydney.
  • Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;
  • Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;
  • Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed;
  • Singing by audiences and choirs at indoor venues or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
  • Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party only (no more than 20 people);
  • Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn);
  • The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;
  • Outdoor seated, ticketed events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity;

We have always indicated we will not hesitate to go further with restrictions to protect the people of NSW.

We understand this is a difficult time for everyone, however we need to take these steps now to get on top of this outbreak.

People across NSW should only enter Greater Sydney for essential purposes.

Source: https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/covid-19-restrictions-extended-nsw

MLTC Covid Urgent Update 26 June 2021

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Waking up this morning you will see there are two confirmed hot spots in Manly where there has been some exposure.
Hugo’s Manly
Manly Wharf,
East Esplanade
Saturday 19 June
5.30pm – 8.15pm
Manly The Boathouse,
Shelly Beach
1 Marine Parade
Sunday 20 June
8.35am – 11.40am
If you have been to any of the listed DO NOT come to the tennis courts and follow the NSW Health directives.
Our courts and bar will be open with restrictions.
– QR sign in
– Face masks in the Clubhouse
– Restricted numbers in Clubhouse.
– No drinking while standing, you must be seated.
– If you feel unwell do not come to the courts.
– If you live or work in City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Bayside, Inner West or Woollahra.
Thanks
Virginia
Secretary MLTC

MLTC Covid Update: No Badge this Saturday

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Sydney Badge has postponed all Badge this Saturday.  There will be no Badge for the next two Saturdays. 
 
Social play is still going ahead but you must adhere to all the requirements:
  • QR sign in
  • Keep social distancing
  • Seated while drinking
  • Mask on in the clubhouse if not eating or drinking.
Keep safe everyone
Virginia
Secretary MLTC

 

MLTC Covid 19 Update 24 June 2021

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To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for one week for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

For MLTC this means:

  1. Face masks must be worn once you have entered the building.
  2. Sanitise your hands
  1. All people must QR code when entering the building.
  1. Court 1 stand: 14 people in total, 5 people on top row, and zero on the row below, and then 5 on the middle row, and then zero on the one below and then 3 on the last row plus 1 person on the chair.
  1. Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed
  1. The one per four square meter rule has been reintroduced so the room capacities as listed must be adhered too (please see signs in clubhouse)
  1. If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside and Woolahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel so you should not visit the club.

These restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of further community transmission and ensure the safety of our members.

Below is information from Sydney Badge.

Regards,
Virginia
Secretary MLTC

————————————–

At this stage, Sydney Badge will continue as per normal this Thursday and Saturday as there are currently no restrictions regarding travel around Metropolitan Sydney. The Office of Sport has not changed any of their guidelines in respect to community sport which is why Tennis NSW is continuing to run the Sydney Badge Competition. Due to the ever changing nature of the pandemic this can change at any time and we will advise ASAP.  

Please send this as reminder to all of your players to make sure they are following all of the public health orders and if they have been to any of the locations where a confirmed case has been to make sure they are getting tested and self-isolating as per the guidelines.

All of the most up to date Covid-19 information can be found at the link below.

https://nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

Good luck to all teams and stay safe.

Kind Regards,
TNSW Competitions

 

New COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney

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Published: 23 Jun 2021

Released by: The Premier, Minister for Health and Medical Research

To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney from 4pm today for one week.

Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the following restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour;

  • Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;
  • Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;
  • Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed;
  • Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
  • Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people);
  • Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn);
  • The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;
  • Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50% seated capacity;
  • Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced;
  • If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.

These restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of further community transmission.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said we are once again asking the community to do what they do best and follow the health advice to get on top of this outbreak.

“We don’t take these steps lightly and we never want to impose restrictions unless we absolutely have to,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We know the effect this will have on residents and venues but we must take this action now to ensure we keep on top of this outbreak.”

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged the community to play their part in controlling the COVID spread.

“We need really high testing rates to make sure we’re stopping any chains of transmission and we’re continuing to urge people to come forward for testing, especially if you were in Westfield Bondi Junction (including the car park) at any time between 12 June and 18 June,” Dr Chant said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said more than ever people need to use QR codes and wear masks when required.

“We will be increasing supervision and compliance checks to make sure everyone is doing the right thing,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This pandemic is far from over and we all have to do our bit to protect the community.”

The government and health experts will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updated information and advice.

MLTC Newsletter 22 June 2021

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CLUB CAPTAIN’S REPORT

Rain washed out most matches in Sydney Badge on Saturday with no home matches or social tennis being played. Two of our teams were forced to play away in the wind and rain and suffered losses.

Our Mens 1 Team moved into a clear 4th position with a result from Saturday going our way. New member Ben O’Connell joins the team now and should enhance our chances for the rest of the season.

This Saturday both Mens and Ladies 1 Teams play late matches at home.

Results from last week.

Thursday Ladies

Manly White won 7-1 away at Cooper Park. Narelle/Jane 4 sets Melinda/Michelle 3 sets

Manly Blue Lost 6-2 at home to Cooper Park 1. Sue/Barbara 1 set Liz/Suellen 1 set

This Thursday the two Manly Teams play each other.

Saturday Juniors Lost 4-1 away

Maria won 1 singles The girls are now 5th. The girls will be playing tournaments in the school holidays so we wish them both good luck.

Saturday Badge

Ladies 1 lost 7-1 away at Tennis World. Lisa Townsend/Nicola 1 set

Mens 6 Lost 6-2 away at Killara. Chris/Graham 1 set Denis/Sylvain 1 set

All other matches were washed out and each team receives 5 points.

All teams play again this weekend and then there is no play again on July 3.

Denis Crowley