A WORLD champion tennis player will take on the next generation of junior talent from the Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland at the Ballina New Year Open.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of competitors are expected to take part in the four-day tournament at Ballina Tennis Club, starting on Friday, January 2.<\/p>\n
Lismore product Brendon Moore returns to the open men’s competition for the first time in several years.<\/p>\n
Moore represents Australia on the world masters circuit, where he is currently the top-ranked player after winning multiple gold medals.<\/p>\n
The 40-year-old also coaches at Tweed Heads and will bring junior players from his Moore Tennis Academy to the tournament.<\/p>\n
Ballina coach Stephen Gort, who has competed in the event several times, runs the Northern Rivers Tennis Academy.<\/p>\n
Most of the local junior entries will come through Gort’s academy.<\/p>\n
“It’s a great opportunity to see some of the better players up close,” Ballina Tennis Club member Nial Ridge said.<\/p>\n
“It’s also a bit of a fundraiser for the tennis club, and our volunteers like to get involved and help out wherever they can.<\/p>\n
“Steve does a great job coaching and taking the kids away for tournaments, and one of our juniors is in the top 20 for his age division.”<\/p>\n
Tweed Heads teenager Matilda Daniel did not drop a set on her way to becoming the youngest women’s winner in the history of the competition last year.<\/p>\n
Mullumbimby’s Marielou Baudouin won the title the previous year before going on to play college tennis in the United States on scholarship.<\/p>\n
This year’s tournament will be played across 11 courts in Ballina, with Alstonville Tennis Club also hosting some matches.<\/p>\n
Most junior players compete in multiple divisions and can play several matches over the four days.<\/p>\n
“They spend a lot of time on the court and it’s a really busy couple of days,” Ridge said.<\/p>\n
“Cherry Street Sports Club also chips in with discounted accommodation at its motel, so it’s a real community tournament.”<\/p>\n
Finals for the open men’s and women’s events are expected to be played on the morning of the final day, followed by a short presentation with a short presentation to follow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A WORLD champion tennis player will take on the next generation of junior talent from the Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland at the Ballina New Year Open. Hundreds of competitors are expected to take part in the four-day tournament at Ballina Tennis Club, starting on Friday, January 2. Lismore product Brendon Moore returns to the […]<\/p>\n