More than 200 international under 18 tennis champions have registered for the ITF Junior World Tennis Tour next month in Ashburton.
Among them New Zealand under 18 tennis players Josh Gilbert and Riley Breen, both 15, of Ashburton.
Hosted by Mid Canterbury Tennis, the tour runs from January 6 to 12 at Braided Rivers Community Trust Ashburton Tennis Centre, on Oak Grove.
Tournament committee member James Cochrane said around 120 males, and 80 female players from across the world, including those from Asia, Europe and America, had registered their interest to compete in the J60 event in singles and doubles format. Numbers would be cut to 70 of each.
Registered players would know if they had been cut from the tournament by Christmas Eve.
‘‘It’s going to have to get whittled down, not everyone can make that draw,’’ he said.
Around 24 of those players would then play for entry into the main draw, made up of 48 male players and 48 female players in the singles competition, and 32 of each, in doubles.
Cochrane said the New Zealand stop of the tour was often considered a warm-up to the Australian Open Juniors a fortnight later in Melbourne.
‘‘They call it a swing, in New Zealand there is effectively our tournament, then another one in Christchurch and then, I think there’s one in Wellington the week after that as well, so it’s a really good opportunity for some of those players to come in for a pre-tournament tour.’’
Mid Canterbury Tennis were proud to be hosting the event, he said.
‘‘Along with trying to win the tournament, players will be seeking to earn ITF points which assist players in making the right steps in their career by becoming eligible for more tournaments, higher rankings and furthering their career,’’ he said.
‘‘This is the most prestigious junior tournament to be hosted in Ashburton to date and an amazing opportunity for New Zealand best junior tennis players to play in their own conditions here in New Zealand.’’
Entry to the tournament during the week is free for spectators, and a great chance to watch some top international age group tennis talent in action.
