Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club The Fed Cup Comes To Melbourne Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club hosted the Federation Cup Tie Australia v Ukraine in April 2011. This was a big undertaking for a suburban tennis club and was the first time since 1988 that a Fed Cup tie had been held in Melbourne. The event involved the erection of two large stands to accommodate around 2000 spectators plus corporate and event hospitality tents and conversion of the clubrooms for use by the two teams. Two of the courts were converted to a clay surface for the tie by Richards and Son and the players were very complimentary about how the court played. On the court, the two Saturday rubbers went quickly with the tie locked at 1-1. A big crowd enjoyed the beautiful weather and some fine tennis on the Sunday. The only drawback was that Australia lost. It was a great experience and showcased the wonderful facilities at Glen Iris which
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also hosts the grand-final of Tennis Victoria’s Premier League competition. Since the tie, the club decided to retain the clay court surface for a month or two so that their members could play on the new surface. It was a fantastic addition to the club, as it meant the members had the chance to play on the ‘Fed Cup Court’. The club proudly displays a Fed Cup poster signed by the players on its clubhouse wall and they can now look back on this unique experience for a suburban tennis club with fond memories. Robert Jamieson - Secretary