9 August 2018 | Tennis ACT

ACT’s Narelle Raftery and Ros Balodis will captain Australian teams at the ITF Seniors World Team Championships from 12-18 August in Ulm, Germany.

Raftery will lead the Australian team in the Maureen Connolly Cup as they compete against 16 other nations from across the globe. Raftery was part of the Australian team which won the title in 2017 and will be joined by Brenda Foster (NSW), Wanda Howes (Vic) and Leanne Swaysland (NSW).

It will be the first time Raftery has led the Australian team. Despite returning three of the four players from 2017 champion team, Raftery says they are going in with mixed confidence with last year’s number 1, Balodis moving up an age group.

“Last year I was Ros’ good number 2. We made a very good team at one and two. This time I’ll have to set up and emulate her.”

Raftery is coming into the event after claiming the singles titles at the Tennis Seniors Queensland Championships held on the Gold Coast last month. As well as the team’s event, Raftery is looking forward to competing in the ITF Seniors World Individual Championships.

“This will be the first year in a couple of years I’ve stayed on to play the individuals as well. It’s been a while since I’ve felt good enough physically to go fairly deep into this time.

“ I haven’t had much opportunity over the last few years, so my goal would be to get as close to it as I possibly can.”

Fellow Canberran, Balodis will captain the Australian the Alice Marble Cup team of Lyn Mortimer (Qld), Judith Buzza (Vic), and Suzie Ellis (NSW). It will be the thirteenth time Balodis has captained an Australian team, with the Canberra legend looking forward to the moving up in the 60’s age group.

“It’s good to be in the 60’s because I’ll be the youngest in the group. I’ve played in teams with two of the three players in my team this year before, so we know each other and get along well.”

Despite holding six world team titles, seven singles titles and 12 doubles titles, Balodis isn’t getting too far ahead of herself and just looking forward to returning to Germany.

“My goal is always to get through the two weeks without injury.

“This is the second time I’ve been to Germany for the World Seniors, last time they were very welcoming and we had a great time.”