25 February 2020 | Tennis West

Former tennis professional and doubles expert Casey Dellacqua, joined 15 of the state’s top performing 16/u junior girls on Saturday, for a dedicated doubles coaching clinic at the State Tennis Centre.

Having dominated the doubles game throughout her professional playing career, Dellacqua delivered invaluable insights, strategies and tactics to the aspiring young players, who relished in the opportunity to learn from the former doubles champion whose doubles ranking peaked at world No.3 in 2016.

Taking to the court with Dellacqua, were players from the Tennis West Junior Girls State League competition who compete weekly in the all-new Casey Dellacqua Cup, which aims to create a level playing field and natural progression for the state’s top aspiring juniors.

Tennis West CEO Michael Roberts says it was an absolute honor to have Dellacqua spend time with some of the state’s most promising players.

‘The Casey Dellacqua Cup is a new initiative for the 2019/2020 season and having Casey as the Competition’s Ambassador is an absolute privilege,’

‘She’s the perfect fit for our Junior State League girls, having grown up playing in WA, she understands our training, development and competition landscape like no one else,’

‘The girls are incredibly fortunate to be given the opportunity to spend time on court with Casey and they’ll each take something different away from the experience. It’s a priceless experience for our junior girls,’ Roberts said.

Dellacqua, who took on the role of the competitions ambassador in 2019, says she’s thrilled to put her name to a competition that meant so much to her as a developing player.

‘I’m so excited and honoured to be named ambassador for the Casey Dellacqua Cup,’

‘I played in the State League competition every weekend throughout my junior career, and as I progressed into the senior ranks”

‘It actually really developed me into being the player that I ended up being,’

‘It’s such a great concept and I’m so glad it is still thriving all these years later,’ Dellacqua said.

There are six Junior Girls State League teams which compete weekly in the Casey Dellacqua Cup. The competition aims to further develop the skills and match play preparation, as the girls begin to advance to the women’s State League competition.