MORE than 100 local budding tennis stars and their families from Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club and Ky Valley Tennis Club had the chance to take to the courts at the Australian Open as part of this year’s ANZ Tennis Hot Shots Community Play program.
Fifty Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club ageing between five and six and their parents took to the courts. In total 65 from the Ky Valley Tennis Club took part in the first day of tennis action, with a further 10 children getting the chance to play on court five on the second day.
Numurkah Lawn Tennis Club coach, Mark Mills said, “It was a great experience and the kids had a photo with tennis star, Dylan Alcott on the tennis courts.
“They also had the chance to see some great matches. For the kids who hadn’t been before, seeing the players hitting the ball only meters away was a bit different to television. Seeing how hard they actually hit the ball was a great experience for them.”
Ky Valley Tennis Club Hot Shots coordinator, Melissa Williams said, “We were back at the Australian Open on day seven (Sunday, January 20) for the ‘Kids on Court’ experience. Our children drew court five and played prior to the first round match of the Junior Boys Singles against Harry Wendelken (United Kingdom) and Gauthier Onclin (Belgium). Wendelken won 7-5, 6-7, 7-6.
“Our own Taylor Horder had the honour of doing the coin toss for the match.
“Max Hausler, Couper Williams, Will Penn, James Penn, Tayla Horder, Amelia Palmer, Olivia Gemmill, Amity Wright, Jack Forde, Nash Eddy were the 10 lucky children selected to participate.
“All children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and after their on court commitments had free time watch the tennis on their ground pass.”
