Returning for the first time since 2019, the Oceania Cup brings together the Pacific's leading tennis nations to compete in both men's and women's team events, with a round-robin stage followed by finals to determine the champion.
Australia’s team consisted of four of the nation's leading First Nations players – Laquisa Khan, Lola Grigor, Charlie Pade and Billy Bougoure – who proudly represented their culture while competing against teams from across the Pacific.
The Australian team were dominant throughout the week before sweeping Tahiti in the final.
For 16-year-old Grigor, the Oceania Cup marked her first international tournament and her first time representing Australia.
"It was extremely exciting," Grigor said. "The First Nations pathway is quite team orientated, so you're surrounded by community which definitely lifts our tennis.
“Getting the opportunity to represent your country as the First Nations team is amazing."
Pade, who is currently studying and competing at college in Phoenix, Arizona, said the event was about more than the results.
“Being able to play for Australia in an Indigenous team is awesome,” Pade said.
"I love sharing our culture with people who don't really know much about it, especially in the US and other parts of the world.
"To wear the Aussie flag on your shirt is pretty cool, and to represent your mob, where you’re from and your family is really cool.
“It's easy to keep motivation when you're out there when you've got your team cheering you on and your coach helping you out there. It's just a really cool experience.”
Bougoure described the week as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with the experience made more meaningful by representing the First Nations team.
"Playing against other Oceania teams has been such a rich cultural experience," he said.
"We definitely have a responsibility to represent a First Nations team strongly. There’s a lot of people who would love this opportunity. Given there’s only a few of us on the team, I'm very happy to be representing the First Nations Aussie team.
“This is a great stepping stone for myself for tournaments I get to play in the future, given how great and fun this experience was as I'm able to take that into my next tournament.”
Khan, who returned to competition this season after taking time away from the tour, believes the event reignited her enjoyment of the sport.
"I immediately said yes because opportunities like this hardly come up," Khan said.
“My favourite thing about being in Tahiti is how everyone gathers together to have lunch and dinner at the tennis courts – it’s very communal, it feels very homely, you feel welcomed. I love the culture here.
“It was great timing for me to come here, play some matches, enjoy tennis again, and then go back to Australia and play.”
Coach Adam Lasky praised the team's performances both on and off the court, showcasing the strength of Australia's First Nations pathway throughout the week.
"Winning both the men's and women's events was fantastic, but this week wasn't all about the tennis,” he said.
“It was about the cultural connections we made and representing Australia as First Nations people."