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Esperance Open nets top field of players

Former tour professionals and some of the State’s most promising junior tennis players will hit WA’s South Coast this weekend for the 2015 Esperance March Open.

The Australian Money Tour and Optus Junior Tour event has attracted 170 entries as up-and- comers battle it out for valuable Australian rankings points and more than $4000 prize money.

The field features players from around the State, with play getting under way from 4pm tomorrow and continuing until Monday afternoon.

A record 25 players have nominated for the Women’s Series event, which is headlined by WA State junior player Megan Kauffman, who earned the number one seed.

Esperance Tennis Club’s new coach and former New Zealand international, Diane Hollands, will play Perth’s Jaime Edwards on Friday night in an exciting early round match-up.

Timothy Gray, the 2014 WA Open under-16s runner-up, is the number one seed of the 43 players in the men’s draw.

The quality also extends off the court as Dawn Hay, who served as a centre court linesperson at the Australian Open, will be overseeing the action as the tournament’s court supervisor.

Event organiser Ann Welke said the tournament was shaping up as one of the best in more than 30 years of major events.

“Coaches from around the State are bringing their top players down in big groups of about 25, so I think the standard of play is going to be very high,” she said.

“It’s also really good to see lots of young ones competing in the senior competition as they try and gain some Australian ranking points.

“The number of people who are coming down to play is fantastic, I don’t think we’re going to have a court free between Friday night and Monday afternoon.”

In addition to the men’s and women’s singles events, there will also be doubles and junior divisions.

This weekend will also see the debut of the Horizon Power Fast 4 Mixed Doubles Tournament, which is open to players of all ages and abilities.

With $500 up for grabs, Welke said the mixed doubles, which takes place on Friday and Saturday night from 6.30pm, will be an entertaining affair.

“We are playing it during twilight, so hopefully we get a balmy Esperance night to enjoy some less serious tennis after each day’s play,” she said.

For further information or to register for the mixed doubles, contact Welke on 0407 381 728.