Australian Sports Commission statement of facts about the Australian Institute of Sport Pro Tour Tennis program.

AIS tennis program

• The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Pro Tour Tennis program is not based exclusively in Canberra. Following a high performance review the AIS program was restructured in 2006 to become the pinnacle element of Tennis Australia’s high performance pathway. The program is a mobile program with bases in Australia and Spain (Barcelona).
• The Australian based component of the program is located in Canberra which provides athletes with access to some of Australia’s leading coaches, facilities, sports science and sports medicine experts all in the one location. The program is geared predominantly towards an international schedule.
• For the majority of the tennis season AIS athletes travel nationally and internationally, where they continue to receive AIS expertise, sport science access and training opportunities while competing full time on the road with their dedicated coaches.
• The AIS program is underpinned by a system of national academies. Strong integration between the AIS and the national academies allows for a smoother transition for developing players progressing within the pathway, as it is recognised that it can  takes more than ten years to develop junior athlete into an elite level performer.
• Players like world ranked number 11 Samantha Stosur, Casey Dellacqua and Jamilla Groth, while no longer an AIS scholarship holders, continue to receive ongoing support from the AIS in the form of sports science and sports medicine experts whenever they are in Australia.

AIS coaches

• The AIS tennis program is and has been delivered by a number of highly experienced coaches with a proven track record on the ATP/WTA tours. These include Head Coach Brent Larkham who has  a proven track record in player development, Todd Woodbridge, who was this week inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside his former doubles partner Mark Woodforde, Chris Johnstone (former long-time coach of top 10 player Wayne Ferreira), Nicole Pratt a former  top 40 and Fed Cup player, Anthony Lane, David Taylor Australia’s Fed Cup Captain, Sandon Stolle and Ray Ruffels who is one of most respected figures in Australian tennis, with a proven record in talent development and strong leadership skills.

AIS tennis program delivers strong results:

• Since 2006 five AIS scholarship holders have ranked in the top 100 with another five in the top 150 in the world; some of these representing  Australia in Davis Cup and Fed Cup matches. Three AIS athletes competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
• Athletes who have held an AIS scholarship since the program was reshaped and expanded in 2007 include Casey Dellacqua, Samantha Stosur, Peter Luczak, Chris Guccione, Jessica Moore, Jamilla Groth and Olivia Rogowska.
• More than 80 per cent  of AIS scholarship holders achieved a career high ranking while in the program.

ASC involvement in Tennis Australia’s restructure:

• In 2004, the (ASC) was asked by Tennis Australia to conduct a high performance review of its operations. The review determined that the high performance structure of tennis (including the AIS program) was inefficient and ineffective.
• The review recommended that the Tennis Australia roles of President and Chief Executive be separated. Tennis Australia had made this change by early 2005.
• In 2007 the ASC advised Tennis Australia that funding for 2007/08 was conditional on a commitment by Tennis Australia to move to a fully independent board structure.  Tennis Australia committed to change its constitution to allow this to occur, and to achieve full board independence within a reasonable time frame.
• By May 2008 Tennis Australia had a new constitution in place, which included a plan to implement a new independent board by 2012.

ASC funding to tennis:

• In order to receive funding from the Australian Sports Commission, National Sports Organisation’s are required to enter into an annual Funding and Service Level Agreement. This commits the sport to provide evidence of appropriate systems and processes, including financial and management, as well as Member Protection and anti-doping policies. Tennis Australia has consistently met all these requirements.