The historic event will run across the long weekend, starting on Friday, April 7 before concluding with the finals on Monday, April 10.
A total of $10,000 in prizemoney is up for grabs across senior, veteran and junior age groups in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.
Malcolm Thiel from said the club was expecting a bumper number of participants on the courts this weekend.
“We have a full house. We are over capacity, actually,” Thiel said.
“We have about 550 players entered in the tournament which will give us about 1000 entries.
“It is a lot of matches to get through, so that is why we are starting a little bit earlier and we are going to have to use our lights to play some matches into the evening.”
Thiel said the tournament was the biggest event on the club’s calendar each year.
He said it brought crucial funds into the club, but also much more than that as well.
“This is our biggest fundraiser financially for the club and it has been for many, many years. It is vital for the club in terms of direct finances back into the club,” he said.
“Over the years there has been some really good people come to the tournament to play tennis. The history is littered with some really good players at the top end.
“Maybe we will see another couple of champions this year who will go on and do bigger and better things in their future tennis careers.
“There are a lot of lifetime friendships made here. Some of the players and groups keep coming back and their kids come back too. There are some relationships and friendships that have been built over many years.
“It is good for the club, it is good for the town and good for the people that travel here.
“A lot of the participants are people that are coming to Shepparton. We are very grateful that people travel to Shepparton and our event.”
Aside from the tennis action on the courts, there will be plenty of other activity across the weekend.
The club will host free clinics for children, as well as Easter egg hunts.
Saturday night will be headlined by a fastest serve competition, with cash and other prizes up for grabs.
There will be live music on Friday and Saturday night too with performances from Tom Nethersole, Lillie Walker and Zach Ranson, as well as food and drink available right across the weekend.
The event is open to general spectators across the weekend.
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