While the likes of Alex De Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and Olivia Gadecki will be preparing for the globally watched tournament, the region’s young guns will be tightening their racquet strings and washing their wristbands for a tournament of their own.
Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club will once again host the Goulburn Valley Open and Junior Championships across January 2-5.
The championships are an excellent opportunity for the region’s young gun tennis stars to demonstrate their skill, power and finesse against some of the nation’s brightest young prospects.
Representing the Goulburn Valley with pride will be Zach and Thomas Ranson, Jeremy O’Brien and Nic Gattuso.
Some of the interstate talent that will come to participate is thanks to Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club coach Sam Tozer.
Originally from Adelaide, Tozer has helped attract some of South Australia’s star juniors to take on some of Shepparton’s homegrown talent.
January’s tournament will have an emerging junior South Australian star Dylan Wilson compete in the men’s open championship.
The 17-year-old has an International Tennis Federation ranking.
The tournament has an impressive history, with world number one ranked female junior Emerson Jones being crowned the winner of the tournament in 2022.
Jones — 13 at the time — defeated Eliza Bingham in straight sets to take home the championship.
The Goulburn Valley Open and Junior Championships are expected to attract roughly 200 junior tennis players to the region.
Make sure to head down to the Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club courts early in January to catch some of the thrilling action, with the tournament’s finals set to be played on January 5.
