Papua New Guinea’s Abigail Tere-Apisah will step into the role of Pacific Oceania Billie Jean King Cup captain this week, marking a significant milestone in her leadership journey.
“I feel really proud to be named captain this year. I’ve been part of this team as a player for so many years and since transitioning into coaching a few years ago, this is my biggest achievement,” Tere-Apisah said.
“I know it will be a challenge but I’m really excited. It’s an opportunity that will help me grow as a coach and broaden my skills.
“It’s always a proud and special feeling to represent your country and to do so for the Pacific region makes it even more meaningful."
Tere-Apisah is a graduate of Tennis Australia’s Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis program, having embraced every opportunity to evolve from a player into a respected coach, mentor and leader on the international stage.
The program, funded by the Australian Government's PacificAus Sports initiative, is designed to support and empower Pacific women to take up leadership positions through professional development and networking opportunities.
“The program has helped me grow so much as both a person and a coach. It’s been an incredible opportunity to keep learning and developing and something I’ve really tried to make the most of,” Tere-Apisah said.
“The program has given us opportunities to grow and upskill, and the chance to build strong connections with coaches in Australia has been fantastic.”
Her progression through the program is a powerful example of how targeted support, mentorship and opportunity can shape the next generation of leaders in tennis across the Pacific.
Before stepping into leadership and mentoring roles, Tere-Apisah built an impressive professional tennis career, establishing herself as one of the region’s leading athletes. She competed on the ITF Women’s Circuit, reached a career-high WTA singles ranking inside the top 300 and won multiple gold medals representing Papua New Guinea at the Pacific Games.
She also came close to making history at the 2018 AO Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off, narrowly missing the chance to become the first Papua New Guinean to reach a Grand Slam main draw.
That experience has underpinned her transition into coaching and leadership. In 2023, she captained the Pacific Oceania 13/u team at the Australian Team Championships on the Gold Coast, where she guided emerging players in a high-performance environment under the mentorship of Emily Burns.
Since then, she has continued to build her leadership credentials across both junior and elite pathways leading into her appointment as captain of the Pacific Oceania Billie Jean King Cup team.
“It’s really special for me. I have played alongside some of the girls and now to be courtside with them in this role is a real privilege,” Tere-Apisah said.
“I see this as a chance to inspire coaches in the region, especially female coaches. There’s a strong push to grow women in coaching and I hope my journey encourages others coming through.”
Tere-Apisah’s journey reflects the growing investment in women and girls in sport across the Pacific. Through programs like Pacific Women and Girls in Tennis, she has not only grown personally and professionally but she has contributed to lifting the standard of leadership, representation and opportunity of tennis in the region.
“I absolutely love what I do now. I love being able to give back to tennis in PNG and across the Pacific,” she said.
“My experience as a player really helps in this role. I can relate to what the girls are going through because I’ve been in those situations myself.
“Tennis has shaped me in so many positive ways - teaching me independence, discipline and routine.”
Tere-Apisah hopes her story continues to inspire the next generation, showing that with the right support and determination, Pacific women can lead on the world stage both on and off the court.
“I hope young girls in the Pacific can see this and aspire to be in this position one day,” she said.
“I want to lead by example not just in this role, but in my everyday work as a coach.
“If I can inspire even a few girls or up-and-coming coaches to keep improving and striving to be better, that means everything to me.”