Plenty of action as the new tennis season starts
THE GAME FOR LIFE
Are you a former tennis player who never quite got around to dusting the cobwebs from your racket and hitting the courts again? Or are you someone who’s been interested in trying out tennis but never knew how to get into it?
The club open days being held this weekend and next are the perfect chance to find out what Otago tennis clubs have to offer. There’s no need to bring along your racket — although the courts will be open if you want a hit — just turn up at a club and a friendly club rep will tell you how to get into tennis.
Whether you’re young or young at heart, it truly is the game for life.
TENNIS HOT SHOTS
The national starter tennis programme for New Zealand children, Tennis Hot Shots is just for kids. Smaller courts, shorter rackets and softer balls mean that kids can play a proper game of tennis from the moment they step on court.
Four tennis clubs around Dunedin offer a Hot Shots programme: Balmacewen, Andersons Bay, Mornington/ Roslyn, and Taieri.
Using modified equipment means kids can play an adult version of the game from the very start, developing technical, tactical, physical, and mental skills without being put off by huge courts, heavy rackets, and balls that bounce too high.
See Tennis Hot Shots in action this weekend at your local Hot Shots club.
HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES
Tennis Otago runs tennis holiday programmes during the October, Christmas, and April school holidays, from 9am1pm each day. It is an ideal pathway into tennis for players aged 616, catering for all levels from beginners to more seasoned players.
For more on the October holiday programme, see http://bit.ly/October2018holiday programme
2018 OFS INSURANCE BROKERS OTAGO INDOOR OPEN
This event will be held September 2123 at the Edgar Centre, showcasing the best tennis Dunedin has seen for years. There will be great live tennis to watch throughout the weekend — some of New Zealand’s top players have entered, and spectator entry is free.
Singles start on Friday from 3.30pm; Saturday morning starts with singles quarterfinals, followed by semis; doubles quarters and semis will be played on Saturday afternoon. Finals will be played on a ‘‘show court’’ on Sunday from 10.30am. A limited number of catered courtside seats is still available.
If you know a child aged 915 who is keen to be a ball kid, please contact Tennis Otago.