Local tennis events and tournaments provide young tennis players an invaluable opportunity to compete against others and develop new strategies. By experiencing it all firsthand, they can also learn from each experience as they go.
This summer, Australia will play host to some of the world’s top players for the inaugural Grand Slam of 2023, offering unprecedented competition opportunities for each player.
Hume Tennis
The Hume Tennis and Community Centre in Craigieburn is a world-class facility located just north of Melbourne, providing tennis programs including coaching, competitions and social play. Boasting 16 state-of-the-art courts equipped with Plexicushion or European clay surfaces as well as a cafe and tennis pro shop – you won’t find anything comparable at other facilities in Melbourne!
This centre’s facilities are tailored to enhance player experiences with junior tournaments and social tennis on Sundays as the focus. One of Victoria’s most sought-after clubs, it has a welcoming environment suitable for players of all levels.
As well as offering classes and coaching services, the club also hosts various local and national tennis events, such as the Australian Open in January which attracts 10 of Australia’s best male and female tennis players. Furthermore, NSJTA encourages young tennis player development with grade-based tournaments on Friday night or Saturday morning grade-based tournaments held weekly by them.
Hume annually hosts both the Victorian and Melbourne Wheelchair Tennis Opens, featuring some of the world’s best wheelchair tennis players like four-time Australian Open doubles champion and Paralympian Heath Davidson as well as 14-year-old wildcard holder Jin Woodman. Both events are supported by Stockland, making these tournaments an excellent opportunity to showcase elite talent as well as encourage community participation.
Hume Tennis Team consists of passionate people dedicated to providing access to top quality tennis for their community. Their program strives to be inclusive and meet individual needs; ultimately providing experiences while helping build healthier lifestyles through tennis.
Community Endorsed Events are an integral component of the MJTPS and take place each year for various groups and organisations. These can range from club championships, community or school-based events and mass participation tournaments such as Easter Tournaments to Long Weekend events that may be sponsored by Council, community groups or private organisations and may benefit local sporting groups, charities and schools.
MJTPS
The Melbourne Junior Tennis Pathway Series (MJTPS) provides junior tournaments to accommodate players at all levels of development, making this a fantastic opportunity to introduce yourself into competitive tennis. Tennis requires dedication both physically and mentally – the MJTPS offers tournament opportunities throughout the year for this purpose, including Hotshots Tournaments, Melbourne Junior Tennis Pathway Series (MJTPS), Sunbury Lawn Club Championships etc.
Tournaments are hosted over multiple weekends and provide singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competition at Open, B, and C grade levels. They’re perfectly timed to coincide with local club team association competition or school tennis league matches and enable players to extend their matchplay experience throughout the weekend.
MJTPS tournaments provide children with an ideal way to develop both strategic thinking skills and technical prowess while building community within tennis. All matches at these tournaments are recorded using Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), so that children can track their development over time as their skills advance.
Junior Development Series
The Junior Development Series is an event series tailored to beginner to intermediate players. Held all across the country, it serves as an introduction to competitive match play as well as providing players with different formats to experience. The JDS circuit offers seven different levels, ranging from L7 (open to all players) up to L1 events that are exclusive for only the top junior players.
JDS events offer young tennis players a fantastic opportunity to test themselves against players from different areas and clubs, and to experience both winning and losing in an enjoyable atmosphere. Furthermore, these tournaments help develop leadership and teamwork skills as well as teach young people about hard work and commitment – lessons which will serve them throughout their lives both on and off the tennis court.
As well as the Junior Davis Cup (JDS), many local clubs host tournaments for members and players in their region that aren’t sanctioned by the USTA; these events don’t offer ranking points or prize money but still provide an invaluable way of meeting new tennis players and creating friendships.
Australia is home to some acclaimed tournaments, such as the Australian Open Junior Championships – one of four Grand Slam tournaments on ITF Junior World Tour and an iconic tennis tournament with longstanding tradition, drawing top players like Andy Roddick, Victoria Azarenka, Marcos Baghdatis, Nick Kyrgios, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Karolina Pliskova to its courts over time. Furthermore, Australian Open is the second-oldest tennis tournament worldwide!
In 1905, this tournament was initially known as the Championship of Victoria Colony and later changed to The Australian Open; one of four Grand Slam tournaments. As it gained in popularity and prestige among Australian sports enthusiasts during World War II, its cancellation resulted in it returning as scheduled in 1972.
Milton Ulladulla District Tennis Association hosts multiple regional junior tournaments each year, such as its Champion of Champions tournament in November. These events draw junior players from across southern NSW. Our program for young tennis players focuses on their holistic development by way of private lessons, clinics and playday matches with an excellent instructor-to-player ratio ensuring every child receives individual attention.
ITF Junior Circuit
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Circuit is the premier level of worldwide competition for under-18 players, featuring tournaments from ITF Grade 5 all the way through Grade 1 as well as four Grand Slam events. It serves as a precursor for young players on their way towards professional tours.
ITF Junior tournaments are graded according to their strength of player entries. A player must possess an ITF Junior World Ranking in order to gain entry into Grade A or higher events; otherwise they may still enter qualifying draws as long as they do not pass an entry exam.
As tournaments progress in level, more points are awarded to their winner; these points then form part of both ATP and WTA rankings, so keeping track of results at ITF tournaments becomes critical for players.
Junior players aged 12 years 11 months can enter ITF tournaments online via their IPIN accounts from age 12. Withdrawals must be submitted prior to the freeze deadline on Wednesday 13 days prior to Monday of tournament week in order to avoid incurring late withdrawal penalties; players can also opt out by faxing a withdrawal form directly to ITF office London.
If players withdraw from an ITF Junior tournament before its freeze deadline, they will receive a refund of their entry fee. After this date, there will no longer be a refund available; players can check their entry status and withdrawal deadlines by visiting the tournament fact sheet on the ITF website.
Last week’s Orange Bowl tournament marked a historic week for Latvia and Bulgaria as Adelina Lachinova of Latvia and Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria both won their countries’ inaugural singles titles at this tournament. Additionally, Korean Gerard Campana Lee and Japanese Mayu Crossley claimed ITF championships for their respective divisions while American pair Iva Jovic and Tyra Grant captured girls doubles victory at this event.