Cash says Ipswich on the money

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash (right) and Tennis Australia official Mark Handley throw their support behind Ipswich’s festival of tennis in April.

Sarah Harvey

ONE of Australia’s most successful sportsman worked up such a sweat on his first trip to Ipswich that he had to change his shirt.

However, former Wimbledon tennis champion Pat Cash took it all in his stride. And he even remembered to bring his famous black and white checked headband and cross ear-ring.

Cash, now 44, was the centre of attention at the George Alder Tennis Centre yesterday as he helped launch five major events being held in Ipswich. One of those is the Gallipoli Youth Tennis Cup – where he is ambassador.

“It’s something I’m heavily involved with so it’s a project of pleasure,” Cash said, in his third year associated with the Cup.

“I’m excited about it.

“I’m coming back from overseas – Colombia of all places – to be here.”

Cash said his involvement in the Gallipoli Youth Tennis Cup was important for education and awareness of some of Australia’s most important war history.

That role extends to his 15-year-old son Jett who wants to play tennis like his famous father.

“I’m on the court all the time with him so I’m still involved a lot in tennis,” the five-time Grand Slam finalist said.

“I’ve still got my Academy (at the Gold Coast), but I don’t get back to Queensland enough.”

As he moved from interview to interview – being called upon for a number of tasks – Cash was clearly tested by Ipswich’s notorious humidity.

But as he stopped briefly on one of the Leichhardt playing surfaces, he was impressed with Ipswich’s 12-court facility.

“The main thing is it’s the right clay,” he said, donning the trademark headband that carried him to national and international success in the 1980s.

“It’s a good centre.

“With a tournament these days, you need to have the courts to accommodate that and you’ve got that here.

“It’s going to be a valuable part of the junior tennis circuit in Australia.

“It’s a big month – April – for clay courts in the past. It should be for many years to come so this is going to be an important stepping stone for a lot of the top juniors.”