Happy New Year from Strathfield Sports Club by Damien Bellemore

The staff of Strathfield Sports Club would like to wish all our members, their families and guests a Happy New Year and hope 2013 will be prosperous and full of activity for you all.

Of course the beginning of a new year sees the world tennis circuit descend on Australia for a series of tournaments leading into the Australian Open.

The Brisbane International is already underway with veteran Lleyton Hewitt leading the Aussie charge amongst a host of wildcards into the second round.

Unfortunately our world-number-nine Sam Stosur was not as fortunate in the women’s side of the draw, as she bowed out in straight-sets to Swede Sofia Arvidsson in her return from ankle surgery.

Meanwhile Bernard Tomic and Ashleigh Barty will be flying the Aussie flag in Perth for the annual Hopman Cup mixed team event.

Tomic has pledged to get his act together this year after an indifferent 2012 and says he plans to make the world top ten before the year is out.

He will team up with 16-year-old Ashleigh Barty who will be contesting her second Hopman Cup after receiving the good news she has been given a wild-card entry to the Australian Open.

Both players will need to be at the peak of their powers when they take on Serbia’s top-seeds Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic in their opening tie on Wednesday night.

The world’s best will then turn their attention to Sydney for the upcoming APIA International, as players seek to finalise their preparation ahead of the year’s opening grand slam in Melbourne.

If you can’t get out and see any of the on court action, Strathfield Sports Club will be playing all the big matchups live on our plasmas and projector screen.

Hopefully all the tennis action will inspire you to pick up that new tennis racquet from under the Christmas tree and get on court as we all try to work off our Christmas festivities.

Our courts are always busy during the summer holiday period so members are reminded they can make a booking up to a week in advance and feel free to bring a visitor down to try our great Club facilities.

Visitors are always welcome at Strathfield Sports and can make a tennis booking up to two days in advance by calling our friendly staff.

We hope you have all had a great start to the New Year and look forward to seeing you soon at SSC!