Sport
1 November, 2026
Podium finish for court champ
JUNIOR tennis player Vanessa Fitzgerald has helped Australia secure a silver medal at the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) Intercontinental Team Competition in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
Fitzgerald represented Australia alongside Celeste Rubiano and Maria Gabrys in the under-12 girls’ competition and the trio reached the final after winning four consecutive matches.
The Australian team finished second after losing 2-0 to Tennis Europe in the final, capping a successful international campaign.
The young Australians remained undefeated throughout the group stage, winning nine of a possible 12 rubbers en route to the decider.
Their run ended against a Tennis Europe side that had lost only three rubbers throughout the entire tournament.
For Fitzgerald, the result marked an international achievement, representing Australia on the junior tennis stage.
The team’s silver medal also continued Australia’s recent success at the competition, following the Australian boys’ team’s title win at last year’s event.
Although the girls narrowly missed out on the championship, their performance placed them among the leading teams in the under-12 international competition.
Australia was also represented in the boys’ division by Amir Henni, Avyukt Kumar and Ethan Liversage, who finished in ninth place. The competition brought together junior players competing under the Asian Tennis Federation banner, with the Australian girls progressing through the tournament unbeaten until their final against Tennis Europe.
Fitzgerald’s involvement provides a Far North Queensland link to Australia’s international junior tennis results. The silver medal adds to Australia’s achievements in junior tennis.
