I don’t follow tennis normally, but I’m a great fan of the Mount Gambier Women’s International tournament.
It’s a Pro Tour event with $US25,000 prize money that attracts players from around the world hoping to reach grand slams.
It’s the only international sporting event held regularly in Mount Gambier.
One of the participants this year is former world number eight Alicia Molik, who is coming back after missing most of the past year through injury since the Beijing Olympics.
Yesterday I interviewed top seed Yurika Sema and her sister, third seed Erika Sema, from Japan. They are also doubles partners.
Today I met first-round winner Dani Brown from England (pictured below). She’s a real contradiction.
Dani probably won’t mind me saying she’s a fireball on the court and a gentle beauty off it. I like her controlled aggression and, if she gets her game together, I think it can work for her.
Dani comes from Huddersfield, home of the rugby league Huddersfield Giants, and shares a physiotherapist with the team.
Aged 24, she considers herself “over the hill” in women’s tennis, but has a positive attitude. I suspect she has a few good years on the Pro Tour if she remains injury free.
Dani Brown in action during her first-round match.
Second seed Olivia Rogowska lost to Alicia Molik in the second round.
A big crowd watched Alicia Molik in the second round.
