Ngāi Tahu, Tainui
Career Highlights
1995 First New Zealand female to win an Australian Age Group Championship: National 14’s Clay Court.
1996 At the age of 15 Leanne was the youngest New Zealander to win a match on the professional circuit and in doing so, became the youngest New Zealander to secure a world senior ranking and was selected for the New Zealand Federation Cup Team.
1998 Ranked Number 1 for doubles in World Junior Rankings and 26 for singles. She was selected for the ITF Junior Team to compete on the European circuit.
1999 Won three ITF Singles Titles (US $10,000) and one doubles title. Won a first round match at the ASB Classic (Auckland). Beat Miriam Oremans ranked WTA 57.
Leanne’s WTA singles ranking reaches 273.
2000 Injury and illness hampered progress for most of the year.
2001 Reached six ITF Singles Quarter Finals.
Won six ITF Doubles Titles (10k – 50k Tournaments).
2002 Reached seven ITF Singles Quarter Finals.
Won one ITF Doubles Title.
2003 Reached three ITF Singles Quarter Finals.
Won four ITF Doubles Title.
2004 Qualified for the doubles at Wimbledon with Aussie Nicole Sewell, but lost in the first round.
Won five ITF Doubles Titles (10k – 50k Tournaments).
2005 Reached the doubles finals of the ASB Classic in Auckland with regular doubles partner Francesca Lubiani of Italy. Lost to Srebotnik and Asagoe.
Has won 15 ITF Doubles Titles to date.
WTA doubles ranking reaches 108.
2006 Leanne celebrates 10 years as a professional tennis player and is endeavouring to improve her singles ranking to 250.
Her best world senior ranking has been 108 for doubles and 225 for singles.
Won two ITF Singles Tournaments – Wellington and Taupo.
NZ Junior Titles
U/14 Doubles 1993, 94
U/14 Singles 1994
U/18 Doubles 1996, 97, 98
U/18 Singles 1998
NZ Senior Titles
NZ Residential Doubles 1995, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05
NZ Residential Singles 1997, 98, 99, 00, 03, 04, 05
Māori Tennis Titles
U/12 Mixed 1991
U/12 Doubles 1992
U/12 Singles 1992
U/18 Doubles 1994, 95
Open Doubles 1994, 95
Open Singles 1995
ITF Titles
6 WTA Singles Titles
16 WTA Doubles Titles
Representative Teams
Fed Cup Team 1996, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 05