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Finn's 2015 Tennis Futures Tour

  • Thanks for your support and looking forward to 2015

      22 December 2014
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    It's been a roller coaster ride for me over the last couple of weeks with both a big loss and a big win.

    The first came when I went down to Mike Venus in the semifinals of the singles at the NZ Champs. Mike went on to win the singles title, beating fellow Davis Cup player, Rubin Statham and with this win, he gets a highly prized wild card into the main draw of the Heineken Open, early in the new year. In the doubles, I teamed up with Wesley Whitehouse and defeated tournament top seeds Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak. This means we've also booked a ticket into the main draw doubles at the Heineken Open. For me, this is a great way to top off a challenging year and having this opportunity is fantastic at the start of 2015.

    You can catch me playing at the following places if you are in the neighbourhood.

    Upcoming Events:

    • Jan 7 & 8 2015 La Dolce Vita Tennis Invitational, Fiordland Community Events Centre Te Anau

    http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2015/la-dolce-vita-te-anau-tennis-invitational/te-anau

    • Jan 12 – Jan 17 2015 Heineken Open

    The Heineken has a world class line up of seven Top 20 players entering. I’m hoping to play the qualifying rounds, at Albany on Jan 10th.

    The main draw will be at the ASB Centre, Auckland.

    Check out the link for more information http://www.festivaloftennis.co.nz/heinekenopen/

    • ATL in Melbourne, this is on the back courts during the 2nd week of the Melbourne Open, with a team of 4 players from NZ. For more info check out Tennis NZ site in January.

    Please come and say hello to me if you do attend a tournament.

    I really appreciate your support and am looking forward to doing my European Tour.

    If you have provided me with your email, I’ll keep you up to date with progress. Let me know if you need to be added to my contact list.

    All the best for a Safe and Happy Christmas season

    Cheers Finn

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  • Tennis at ASB Tennis Arena Auckland & Sky Sport 5

      12 December 2014
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    A quick update from me this week.

    The NZ Festival of Tennis is on now. As part of that, The Pascoes the Jewellers NZ Tennis Championships (the top NZ event for 2014) - mens and womens semi-finals and finals - will be played at the ASB Tennis Arena in Auckland & broadcast live on Sky TV, Sky Sport 5.

    Times are from Friday 3PM (semis) and Saturday from 5PM (finals). Come and join us!

    My progress - I'm through to the semi-finals in the singles, having beaten Ben McLachlan 64 63 yesterday. My televised Semi will be on after the women's SF which starts at 3PM today. I play Michael Venus, NZ #1.

    In the doubles, I teamed up with Wesley Whitehouse to defeat Michael Venus and Will Ward 11/9 in the third set to get through to the Final. This is on Sky 5 Saturday from 5PM.

    Come and say hello if you are in Auckland. Thanks all for your support.

    Further info on draws/matches etc at tennis nz.com

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  • Generous Donor Matching $ for $

      5 December 2014

    GREAT NEWS

    10 days left to reach my STRETCH TARGET and I’m really hoping to get there. There’s fantastic news, I have a generous donor offering to match $ for $ up to a maximum of $1,500. This is amazing! It starts Friday 5th December.

    BUSY WEEK

    It’s been a full on week. I’ve been training and competing. Shoulder if feeling good.

    Last Friday the semis of the Scarbro Carobowl Mens Event were played at Parnell with HEAD Parnell beating Cockle Bay. We’ve now booked our place in the final against the tournament leaders Blockhouse Bay at Blockhouse Bay, on Friday 5 December 6PM.

    The Auckland Champs got underway. A total of 64 matches were played in the mens draw. I played well and in the semis managed a good win (63 75) against last year’s finalist, and US Open competitor, Artem Sitak. In the finals I got to play Grand Slam competitor, recent training mate and NZ #1, Mike Venus. I got firmly beaten (62 63) – you can read the write up here: http://www.tennisauckland.co.nz/tennis-auckland/

    On Friday 5 Dec I’m doing a talk to 10 year olds at a local school. I’m expecting they will have a lot to tell me. This is part of my Ambassador role for the Wither Hills West End Cup which has started in Westmere. Later in the day I play a match at the West End Cup and in the evening the Scarbro Carobowl Finals.

    EVENTS

    Thursday 4 – Sunday 7 December: The Wither Hills West End Cup, Fife & WestEnd Road, Westmere. This is a big weekend of tennis with kids zone, food, bouncy castle etc. For more info: http://www.tennisauckland.co.nz/small-gallery-article/west-end-cup/143733/323408/

    Friday 5 December: The Scarbro Carobowl Finals, Blockhouse Bay Club, Auckland For more info: www.tennisauckland.co.nz

    8- 13 December: The 2014 Pascoes NZ Tennis Championships played at both the Albany Tennis Park and the ASB Tennis Arena, home to the ASB Classic and Heineken Open. The singles semi-finals and the finals of both singles and doubles will be broadcast by SKY TV as part of the New Zealand Festival of Tennis.

    THANKS – for all your support. Come and say hello if you get the chance.

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  • Come And Enjoy Some Tennis

      27 November 2014
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    THANKS

    Thanks to your generosity, I’m well on my way to reaching my STRETCH TARGET. My goal is to reach this before the 15 December. I'll be playing at least 6 more events, maximizing my time in Europe, with tougher competition as I go.

    PROGRESS

    In the last week, I’ve played two interclub events for HEAD Parnell and Khandallah, winning my matches. Being back on the court is great and the shoulder is feeling pretty good. I’m still working hard on the shoulder rehab though. Check out the photo with Mike Venus (NZ’s #1) from training this week.

    I’m really looking forward to the upcoming events – keep an eye out for the updates that I’ll post on this site!

    There’s an opportunity to see some quality tennis over the next few weeks. Here’s what’s coming up....

    UPCOMING EVENTS

    Friday 28 November 6PM: The Scarbro Carobowl Mens SemiFinals, Parnell Club, Auckland The Auckland premier interclub event reaches the semi-finals and there’ll be quality matches on view between HEAD Parnell and Cockle Bay. For more info: www.tennisauckland.co.nz

    Monday 1 – Wednesday 3 December: Auckland Champs, Scarbro Tennis Centre, Merton Road, St Johns For more info: www.tennisauckland.co.nz

    SUPPORTER OPPORTUNITIES

    Business signage options, hitting and entries to the prize draw are all still available – check out my project page

    Cheers Finn

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  • WOW! –Target Achieved, Come on Board, There’s More....

      17 November 2014

    A HUGE THANKS to all supporters and to the Spark Foundation for their matching generosity (Spark matching now closed). You helped me reach my target in just 4 days. I thought it might take longer than that but thanks to you I achieved the goal.

    STRETCH TARGET

    Now that my European Tour in 2015 is certain, I’m setting a Stretch Target to reach a further $6,000 before the project closes on 15 December.

    If I reach this goal, I play in at least 6 more events, thereby maximizing my time there and getting more experience and tougher competition as I go.

    SUPPORTER OPPORTUNITIES

    Business signage options, hitting and entries to the prize draw are all still available – check out my project page for details

    TENNIS EVENTS

    Since my last update, I played for Parnell at Pompellier Club, Auckland on 14 November. We had a great result and a win for our team. I’m also working hard at rehabilitating my shoulder and it’s continuing to feel good.

    NEXT EVENT: Friday 21 Nov at 6pm Parnell vs Royal Oak at Parnell, Auckland. Come along and join us. Like I mentioned last week, if it is raining, check with the club before you head out: http://www.parnelllawntennisclub.co.nz/

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  • Incredible Supporters

      14 November 2014
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    A big THANK YOU to every one of you who has checked out my page & supported me so far.... it is very humbling and I'm very grateful.

    I've been training this week in Auckland...it's been fun and a lot of hard work. I'm getting fit after my surgery and my shoulder is feeling better week by week.

    Thanks to your generosity, Spark is now matching dollar for dollar. This means that for every donation pledged they'll match it.

    MATCHING LASTS FOR JUST 4 MORE DAYS! So please pass the link to friends, family, workmates....and anyone else who you know that loves the sport or may be interested in helping out.

    If you want to catch some tennis, come along to Pompellier Club, College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland this Friday where Pompellier are playing my team, Parnell 1. You can catch us warming up from 5.30pm. If it's raining check with the club before you head out.

    Thanks again for your support!

    Cheers Finn

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