WARRNAMBOOL and district tennis players have proved their emerging talents with encouraging performances at a Bendigo tournament.
Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club sent a 21-player squad to the Bendigo championships, a bronze level event on the Optus Junior Tour.
The championships also doubled as a bronze-level Australian Money Tournament, for open-age players.
Senior coach Matt Moloney and Jake Dunn reached the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles in one of several promising results for the club.
Sam Wilde made a quarter-final in the 16 and under boys’ singles, after starting the tournament as the fourth seed.
Sophie McConnell finished runner-up in the 14 and under girls’ consolation singles, enjoying a charmed run after losing her first main-draw match.
Thomas Champness was the pick of the 14 and under boys, reaching a quarter-final, while Jeremy Attrill did likewise in the 12 and under boys’ grade.
Jeremy also won the 12 and under boys’ doubles final, teaming with Alex Furst as the top-seeded combination.
Willow Sainsbury reached a quarter-final in the 12 and under girls’ doubles with partner Cassie Pleming.
WLTC committee member Brenda Boyd said the squad should be proud of its efforts at Bendigo.
“The good thing about the whole event, for our kids to win one or two rounds is fantastic,” she said.
“We haven’t played any tennis over the winter — we were lacking a bit of match play, and that’s where our kids struggled.
“The other good thing we’ve found through the squad is, seeing tennis is such an individual sport on the court, it was so social up there.”