PRESS RELEASE – Guam’s Daniel Llarenas will be taking his tennis rackets to Melbourne, Australia in January and suiting up for Pacific Oceania representing Guam.

Daniel Llarenas goes up for an overhead smash during a Davis Cup doubles match between Pacific Oceania and Iran at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts in July 2011. Llarenas has been selected by the Oceania Tennis Federation to play for the Pacific Oceania Dolphins in the Asia Pacific Tennis League in Melbourne, Australia Jan. 22-24. (courtesy photo)

Llarenas, head tennis pro and partner of Ocean Tennis Guam, has been handpicked to join the Pacific Oceania Dolphins tennis team that will compete in the 2012/13 Asia Pacific Tennis League in Melbourne, Australia Jan. 22-24. The team will be competing against other teams from the Australian states, New Zealand and a team from Asia in four singles and two doubles matches.

“I am looking forward to playing in Australia,” Llarenas said. “I am honored to have been chosen to play for the Dolphins team. I started playing tennis in Guam, so I feel honored to have made it full circle back to represent the islands. I am always honored to be given the chance to represent Guam.”

Oceania Tennis Federation Davis Cup selectors chose the team members based on their playing experience or potential playing experience in Davis Cup level tennis, as well as performance during the Pacific Games tennis competition.

Llarenas, who has played for Pacific Oceania in three Davis Cup ties, is one of six players on the Pacific Oceania Dolphins team. Other members include Vanuatu’s Cyril Jacobe, Samoa’s Juan Langton, New Caledonia’s Nickolas N’Godrela, Samuel Journet and junior player Gregory Jacobe from Vanuatu. N’Godrela and Cyril Jacobe are the reigning 2011 Pacific Games gold and silver medalists, respectively, in men’s singles. Langton won the gold medal in men’s doubles with partner Leon So’onalole at the same tournament. New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Samoa won the gold, silver and bronze medal, respectively, in the men’s team tennis event. Gregory Jacobe was part of Vanuatu’s silver-medal winning team.

Llarenas first helped Pacific Oceania win against Iran in 2011, securing Pacific Oceania’s third doubles victory in its history in Davis Cup Group II play, partnering with Cyril Jacobe at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Llarenas also played for Pacific Oceania earlier this year in the Philippines and Lebanon. Llarenas won his dead-rubber singles match in Lebanon, downing Rami Osman, 6-3 4-6 6-4, according to the Davis Cup Web site.

The Dolphins will meet in Melbourne shortly before the games, Llarenas said. The games will coincide with the second week of the Australian Open.

“I expect the level of competition to be challenging and look forward to it,” Llarenas said. “Every time I play, I benefit from the experience of the matches and continue to develop myself as a competitive player.”

The top team will receive $15,000. Matches will be played at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria on a plexicushion surface. Wilson Australia Open tennis balls will be used as the official match balls, according to an event brochure.