NORTH West Tennis Academy tennis juniors make up a third of the playing numbers when the annual Champion of Champions Tennis Tournament is held in Inverell this weekend.
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64 juniors from the Northern Inland and North Coast regions will contest Under 10, 12, 14 and 16 boys’ and girls’ age divisions in Inverell, with the top four players in each age group qualifying for the State Finals in Sydney during October.
Jarrod Campbell, head coach of the Tamworth Tennis Club-based North West Tennis Academy, is delighted 23 young players from his academy have qualified for the Inverell tournament.
“Earlier this year the North West region held its Medibank Junior Development Series across the region,” he said.
Inverell, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Armidale, Glen Innes and Narrabri all held MJDS tournaments to qualify eight boys and eight girls in each group for the Champion of Champions tournament in Inverell.
“It’s a fantastic concept for the sport at the junior level and a big step up for the players who make it,” Campbell said. “Especially if it is their first time playing in the event.
“It’s a major goal for the majority of juniors to qualify.
“It’s also a massive weekend of tennis and a huge achievement for those to qualify.”
He said the juniors face off in round robin format in Inverell, with each age division comprising two pools.
The top three players in each pool progress to Sunday’s playoffs from which the top four players in each division qualify for the State Finals.
Having 23 of his young players qualify for this weekend is a bonus for Campbell.
He had 43 players from the academy play in the MJDS.
“To have 23 of our academy players make it is amazing,” he said.
“That’s more than a third and a great achievement for the academy and Tamworth Tennis Club.
“As head coach I am ecstatic with the results and super proud of the effort the juniors have put in to make it this far.
“They all work so hard in lessons, squads, comps and fitness programs.
“The coaching staff could not be happier for them.”
Campbell is hopeful of some “great results over the course of the weekend”.
Tennis Australia and NIAS coaches Jarrod Campbell, Justin Sherriff and Dale Martin will conduct a training day based around tactics and court craft leading into this weekend’s Champion of Champions in Inverell in Tamworth today.
“This is a great experience and opportunity for the junior players to work with national coaches and the region’s most experienced mentors,” Campbell said.
“It’s a perfect lead-in to the Champion of Champions.”
