Australia’s high tennis gamers with an mental incapacity or autism are getting ready to characterize the nation on the world stage on the 2025 Virtus World Tennis Championships.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 1 Might 2025 | Camille Russo
Australia’s high tennis gamers with an mental incapacity or autism are getting ready to characterize the nation on the world stage on the 2025 Virtus World Tennis Championships, set to happen in Astana, Kazakhstan from Monday 5 to Saturday 10 Might.
Eight athletes have been chosen to put on the inexperienced and gold, competing throughout the three worldwide classifications within the mental incapacity and autism (IDA) pathway – II-1 (mental incapacity), II-2 (Down syndrome) and II-3 (autism).
Australian Staff
Males
Archie Graham (QLD) – II-1
Damian Phillips (NSW) – II-1
Timothy Gould (QLD) – II-2
Aman Ramadani (QLD) – II-2
Hunter Thompson (QLD) – II-3
Hayden Ballard (QLD) – II-3
Ladies
Kelly Wren (NSW) – II-1
Andriana Petrakis (SA) – II-1
Queensland’s Archie Graham, the world No.1 within the II-1 males’s class, will as soon as once more lead the group.
The skilled campaigner isn’t any stranger to the worldwide highlight, having claimed 4 medals – one gold, two silver and one bronze – on the 2023 Virtus World Video games and nationwide titles on the Australian Open PWII Championships, together with his most up-to-date third consecutive title in 2025.
He might be joined by Timothy Gould (II-2) and Hunter Thompson (II-3), who’re each trying to defend their world No.1 rankings of their respective classifications after standout performances throughout 2024.
Kelly Wren additionally continues to be a cornerstone of Australia’s IDA group, along with her constant excessive stage efficiency incomes her a outstanding place within the world rankings.
She presently holds the No.4 spot within the II-1 girls’s singles world rankings, securing silver medals in final 12 months’s Virtus World Tennis Championships in each the II-1 girls’s doubles, alongside Andriana Petrakis, and the II-1 combined doubles, partnering with Damian Phillips.
Following a group coaching camp in Canberra final week, head coach Alison Scott mentioned the group is in robust type and able to embrace the problem forward.
“The group has labored extremely onerous over the previous few months to arrange for this occasion,” Scott mentioned.
“Our longstanding gamers carry a lot expertise and resilience, and it’s been unbelievable to see how they’ve helped information and help among the newer members of the group.”
This 12 months marks the second Virtus World Championships marketing campaign for Hayden Ballard (II-3) and Aman Ramadani (II-2), who each debuted internationally in 2024.
“Hayden and Aman have continued to develop and thrive within the nationwide pathway,” Scott mentioned.
“They’ve grown in confidence and have actually embraced the group tradition, which is a core a part of representing Australia. The camaraderie inside this group is one thing actually particular.”
Scott additionally highlighted the fast progress of worldwide competitors throughout the IDA classifications.
“The worldwide commonplace continues to rise, which is thrilling for the game and for our gamers. What’s most necessary is the chance we’re creating – not simply to compete, however to thrive as people and as teammates.
“This group embodies all of that, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The Australian IDA group is proudly supported by Sport Inclusion Australia, the nationwide member organisation for Virtus.
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