Warrnambool Lawn Tennis Club is celebrating a well-deserved prize.
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The club's 2020 Warrnambool Lawn Open won most outstanding tournament at the Victorian Tennis Awards for the first time on Tuesday night.
Tennis Victoria combined 2020 and 2021 for the awards ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic.
President Kim Tobin said the club had already received plenty of congratulatory messages.
WLTC celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Labour Day long weekend tournament in 2020.
"We're just grateful for the recognition and it's just a testament to the years of work that have gone in," she said.
"It's 70 years that have gone in - 70 years working to present a successful event.
"Over the past few years, all we've done is recognise there's an opportunity to add value to the off-court scene as well."
There were social activities for participants across the long weekend with food, entertainment and live music on offer.
"We like to call it our mini AO (Australian Open) - it's a festival of tennis," she said.
"And that's what we've been building, enjoying that social scene.
"(Participants) come and enjoy the tennis and stay at the courts and enjoy what we've got on offer."
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The 2020 edition also attracted top female players after sponsor Entry Education tipped in $5000 to support young women in tennis on International Women's Day weekend.
Slovakian professional tennis player Zuzana Zlochova claimed the women's open singles 6-3, 7-5 against highly-ranked Australian player Belinda Woolcock.
This week's awards ceremony was held online and Tobin anticipates a Tennis Victoria (TV) representative will present the award in-person soon.
The WLTC president praised TV for its ceremony.
"Tennis Victoria did an amazing job in presenting the way they did virtually last night," she said.
"It was well-prepared and just having those different identities in tennis and sport being involved in making the announcement in each category made it a little bit special given we couldn't be there in-person."
American tennis player Shelby Rogers announced WLTC had won the award and former Aussie star Todd Woodbridge interviewed Tobin.
Tobin is writing a thank you letter to all those who were involved in the tournament which includes the likes of committee members, volunteers, sponsors, suppliers, players, the tournament director and curator.
The president also highlighted Warrnambool City Council's events department had been a great support.
As she said "many elements go into this event and every element is critical".
The Mornington Peninsula Easter Gold tournament and Yarrawonga Easter Tournament were also finalists for the award.
Meanwhile, WLTC pennants aren't too far away.
Tobin said they should be good to go in the first weekend of November.
"We're ready to roll back into full swing," she said.
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