Hawkesdale product considered great hope for Warrnambool Lawn Open

The Hawkesdale product is back for another Warrnambool Lawn Open but this time the stakes are higher.

The 17-year-old has dedicated herself to the women's Australian Money Tournament (AMT) tour for the first time this summer.

The other change up is that there's $5000 up for grabs for the women's singles winner due to the wishes of the tournament's major sponsor - it's International Women's Day on Sunday.

Swarbrick said it was a strong field this year.

"It's probably the highest quality tennis that I've seen here, especially in the women's draw," she said.

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Reigning champion Olivia Rich is back to defend her crown at Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club, while this summer's Warrnambool grasscourt tournament victor Monique Barry is back.

Swarbrick has even managed to convince friend Belinda Woolcock, Australia's number 19-ranked women's player, to come to Warrnambool.

"I guess the prize money has helped bring in those professional girls," Swarbrick said.

The pay packet was $1000 each for the men's and women's winner last year but has been bumped up to $5000 for women and $2500 for men.

"It'll be amazing to see Belinda play and see how she goes on the grass," Swarbrick said.

But the Hawkesdale youngster, who has long been involved with WLTC, won't be intimidated by a host of talented players.

"It's anybody's game," she said.

Nothing would make Swarbrick happier than to take the title for the first time.

"It'd be one of the biggest goals and biggest dreams that I'd ever have," she said.

WLTC president Kim Tobin said the club would be thrilled to have a home-grown winner.

"Our club would be so thrilled if we could, in this field of quality players, have someone come up and win at the age of 17," she said.

Tobin acknowledged Swarbrick would be up against older and experienced women, but she has plenty of confidence in the teenager.

"They're our courts, they're her home courts, so anything can happen," she said.

Swarbrick has had to overcome injury to get herself right for the tournament.

The Emmanuel College Year 12 student sustained a groin injury at an AMT tournament in Traralgon in January.

She said her busy schedule probably contributed to her injury.

"It was mainly because of the previous few weeks of nationals, playing in Adelaide and getting really tight and fatigued in my quads," she said.

"I guess that then led to the injury in the groin."

She had played in the 18 and under nationals - December Showdown - and made the quarter final in doubles with Monique Barry.

The youngster had followed that up with a singles quarter-final effort in the Ballarat Platinum and a semi-final doubles finish at the Geelong Platinum tournament.

AMT Platinum tournaments offer the best competition for players outside of the Australian Pro Tour.

Swarbrick was also runner-up in the women's singles at the Inter-regional Country Championships at Mildura and reached a singles semi-final at the Tea Tree Gully Platinum in Adelaide.

She learnt an important lesson from the demanding experience.

"One thing learnt was just to rest my body and listen to my body," she said.

The Hawkesdale product saw a physiotherapist and did strength and conditioning exercises to ensure she could compete in New Zealand as planned in February.

She played in International Tennis Federation events in Christchurch and Auckland before reinjuring her groin in training back in Australia.

Swarbrick is still recovering from the injury and has focused on strengthening her core and quadriceps.

"Just to make sure no further injuries occur during the year," she said.

Meanwhile, the teenager's highlight for the summer was playing in New Zealand against players from Asia and Europe.

She also was one of five juniors that got selected to go to a Mornington Peninsula camp with Australia's top players including Daria Gavrilova.

The Warrnambool Lawn Open has 774 players entered across its 54 events.

In the men's singles, reigning champion Adam Lasky is back for another year and so is 2019 runner-up Andrew Whittington.

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