Origins of Play Tennis World (PTW)
- PTW is an Australian Sports Product. From the early 1900s till the 1980s, Australia was the top Tennis playing country in the world and its players were winning the most Grand Slam Tournaments and Davis Cup crowns of any country; tennis courts were full every day and night, weekdays and weekends. Tennis was one of Australia’s favourite sports, hobbies and talking points and for battlers right through to the upper class.
- In those years, many champions who became world recognized heroes were born.
- Davis Cup Captains: Harry Hopman and Neale Fraser, John Newcombe, Tony Roche, John Fitzgerald, Wally Masur
Mark Edmondson, Grand Slam Winner in singles and doubles
- Legend Pro Players: Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Roy Emmerson, Frank Sedgeman, Neale Fraser, Adrian Quist, Thelma Long, Bill and Lesley Bowrey, John Bromwich, Ken Rosewall, Lew Hoad, John Newcombe, Evonne Goolagong, Tony Roche, Fred Stolle, John Alexander, Ross Case, Geoff Masters, Phil Dent, Jason Stoltenberg, Mark Woodford, Todd Woodbridge, Pat Cash, Mark Edmondson, Wendy Turnball, John Fitzgerald, Wally Masur, Mark Phillopoussis, Pat Rafter, Leighton Hewitt
- Legend Pro Player/Coaches: Kim Warwick Terry Rocavert, Ray Ruffels, Craig Miller, Noel Callaghan, Chris Kachel
- Some Sydney Coaches that I remember as a junior during this “Golden Age”: Dennis Collette, , Terry Futcher, Dave Smiley, Jack Musgrave, Bill Gilmore, Alan McDonald,, Tommy Comber, Ross Sherrif, Don Pullinger, George Christopher, John May,
Harry Plottel, Mark Gibbons, Don McIndoe, Don Champion, Dennis Staunton, Stewart Braithwaite
Australia’s Landscape Shaped Australian Sports Raw Material
One of the reasons for Australia’s sporting success, character and history is the natural wealth of the Australian earth, resources, nature and people characterized by the iconic and nationalistically proud poem written by Dorathea Mackellar, “I love a Sunburnt Country.”
Don Bradman is Australia’ greatest ever Sportsman and he characterizes the Australian sporting culture and brand.
Kerry Dock
Play Tennis World Director