Set for another earthshaker

By Gavin Staindl
IT HAS taken nearly two years, but Paul Klevelaan will finally get the chance to defend his veteran doubles title when he takes to the courts in San Diego, USA, for the ITF World Team Tennis Championships in February.
Representing Australia for the fourth time in the 40-plus event, Klevelaan, 41, from Cranbourne will reunite with Queensland’s Chris O’Mara in what they are calling unfinished business.
After clinching the title in Mexico in 2010, the couple returned to the world stage, earlier this year, to defend their title in New Zealand. However, earthquakes forced the cancellation of the tournament days from its completion.
So despite retaining the title by default, Klevelaan is regarding next year’s tournament on the fault lines of San Diego as his real rematch.
“We won the world championships last year which was a bonus but we’re off to try and defend that title again,” Klevelaan said.
The defending champ was a guarantee to make the doubles team and confident of making the singles and mixed doubles but admitted to being excited when the news came through last month that he had made all three.
“I had hoped I would get selected but it’s always a good feeling when you do make the team,” Klevelaan said. “For the first time I’m playing in the mixed doubles as well so it’ll be a big tournament for me.”
Klevelaan began playing tennis as a kid after watching it on TV and venturing down to the local courts with a friend.
After “practising every day”, Klevelaan progressed to state grade where he captained Kooyong’s firsts team.
Using the lessons he has learnt over the past 30 years, Klevelaan turned to coaching and now heads the coaching departments at the Cranbourne and Pearcedale tennis club while managing the Casey Tennis Centre in Narre Warren.
Although retired from Saturday tennis, Klevelaan is content travelling around the state (and the world) playing tournaments.
“It’s always fun to come up against other good players,” he said. “I was never that good as a junior but, as they say, I’m getting better with age.”