Melbourne VIC, Australia, 23 November 2017 | Tennis Australia

Sydney’s Adam Kellerman has claimed the Men’s Australian Wheelchair Tennis Championships and earned himself a place at Australian Open 2018 after defeating World No. 20 Ben Weekes in a strong final on Sunday 19 November.

Kellerman was thrilled after the match telling fans on his Facebook page;

“Won the final of the Australian National Wheelchair Tennis Championships today!

“No words to describe how good it feels to be playing good tennis after taking a significant break since the Rio Paralympics last September.

“The win qualifies me for the Australian Open in January. Aussie Open here I come!

Kellerman only recently returned from taking a break from the sport since Rio 2016

The 2017 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Championships fielded players in Men’s, Women’s and Junior divisions and offered the strongest field to date.

Alongisde Kellerman, Riley Dumsday (VIC) and Janine Watson (QLD) claimed their respective junior and women’s national titles.

The Australian Wheelchair Tennis Championships has grown significantly since its inception in Bendigo in 2015 and it was exciting to see many new players take to the courts, some for their first tournament ever this weekend.

The Championships weekend also played host to numerous development initiatives with an on-court session with inpatients from the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, a Come & Try Session with community members and kids from the Glenhallen group, and finally our first ever Orange/Green Ball junior division held on Saturday afternoon attended by Victorian juniors.

The Wheelchair Tennis tour will next move to Coffs Harbour for the Key Employment Northern NSW Wheelchair Tennis Tournament from Dec 1-3, 2017.

Registrations are still open: Player Entry – Key Employment Northern NSW

Final Draws and Results attached and can be viewed through tournament link: National Wheelchair Championships Link. Group Champion and Finalist photos attached.

Full Finals Results:

Men’s Singles – Final

Adam Kellerman (NSW) d [1] Ben Weekes (NSW) 6-4 6-0

Men’s B Draw Singles – Final

Michael aka (Matthew) Dobbie (VIC) d Stewart Sherman (NSW) 6-0 6-0

Women’s Final

[1] Janine Watson (QLD) d [2] Bridie Kean (QLD) 4-6 6-2 [10-5]

Junior Singles – Final

[1] Riley Dumsday (VIC) d Finn Broadbent (VIC) 6-1 4-6 6-4

Men’s Doubles  – Final

Ben Weekes (NSW)/Keegan Oh-Chee (NSW) d Anthony Bonarcuso (VIC)/Michael Dobbie (VIC) 6-0 6-0

Women’s Doubles RR

1. [1] Janine Watson (QLD)/Bridie Kean (QLD)
2. Caroline Eagleson (VIC)/Vikki Cummings (VIC)

Junior Doubles RR

1. Marcus Lentini (QLD)/Hayley Slocombe (NSW)
2. Riley Dumsday (VIC)/Oli Stratford (VIC)