YOUNG TENNIS STARS TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIA AT THE 2018 LONGINES FUTURE TENNIS ACES TOURNAMENT IN PARIS DURING ROLAND GARROS

Today, two 12-year-old elite junior tennis
players – Zachary Viiala from Perth and Hana Sonton from the Gold Coast – will be announced as
Australia’s representatives for the 2018 Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris from 31 May
to 2 June.
Viiala and Sonton will take on the best players of their age group from 20 countries around the world at
the tournament. This year the tournament will be held at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and for the first time
the competition will include boys and girls aged between 10 to 12-years-old.
Sonton and Viiala are preparing for their first international competition overseas and are determined to
follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian, Destanee Aiava, who won the Longines Future Tennis Aces
tournament in 2012.
Today they will meet former Australian tennis star and 2011 French Open mixed doubles champion,
Casey Dellacqua at Melbourne Park. Dellacqua, who retired earlier this year, is passionate about
tennis, with a desire to mentor the future generation of Australian players.
As the Official Partner and Official Timekeeper of the French Open, Longines seeks tomorrow’s
champions at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament.
WHEN
Monday 7 May, 9.00am – 12.00pm
WHERE
Clay courts at the National Tennis Centre
Entrance D, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne Park
Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
Parking is available for media at the Eastern Plaza Car Park, entry via Entrance D, Olympic Boulevard.
Please take a ticket upon entry to the car park and this will be validated before you exit.
WHO
• Casey Dellacqua, former Australian tennis star
• Hana Sonton, 12-year-old Gold Coast schoolgirl and 2018 Longines Future Tennis Aces
Australian representative (girls competition)
• Zachary Viiala, 12-year-old Perth schoolboy and 2018 Longines Future Tennis Aces Australian
representative (boys competition)
• John Thorpe, Zachary Viiala’s coach at Dalkeith Tennis Club, Perth
VISION/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
• Hana Sonton and Zachary Viiala warming up on court with Casey Dellacqua
• 2018 Longines Future Tennis Aces Australian representatives, Zachary Viiala and Hana
Sonton, practising against one another ahead of the tournament in Paris
• 1:1 interviews with Casey Dellacqua, Zachary Viiala, Hana Sonton, John Thorpe
SOCIALS
@longines #LFTA #Longines
CONTACT
For all media enquiries, contact Romano Beck for Longines:
Josh Collins p. 0422 296 775 e. josh@romanobeck.com
Steph Skovsdal p. 0438 021 255 e. steph@romanobeck.com