Tennis: Sunday Shootout set to go at Mount Maunganui

Alexander Klintcharov is one of the star attractions in Sunday's Golden Homes Sunday Shootout. PHOTO/FILE

If the weather will allow it an innovative fast version of tennis will be on show for fans at Mount Maunganui Tennis Club tomorrow afternoon.

The Golden Homes Sunday Shootout was planned to be held at the club's brand new courts at Blake Park every month from October to January. So far no one has served a ball as last month's event was washed out.

The fast-paced, one-set match format is the creation of former touring professional Jason Helms, who grew up in Rotorua. Each tournament will have 16 singles players compete over three hours, with men and women playing against each other in one-set matches.

Helms hopes it will do for tennis what Twenty20 has done for cricket.

"We need our children to watch some incredible tennis, to get inspired. The idea is to get young kids watching some top tennis players. Parents will love this tournament because it is over quickly, so works in with children's attention spans," he said.

"For the players there is no waiting around, no delays - it is fast tennis, sudden deuce games, one set. Every shot counts, the pressure is intense. You need to bring your A-game to the table."

Helms has managed to pick up another local sponsor and the prize pool has doubled for tomorrow.

"As we were rained out last month, the prize pool has jackpotted to $2000. We also have a new sponsor onboard, ProPowa, a local underground specialist company in power, communications and water," he said.

"ProPowa is sponsoring a runner-up prize of $400 this month. Owner of ProPowa, Bill Simeon, signed up as a sponsor because he could see the tournament has huge potential and wanted to contribute back to his community."

One of the players looking forward to the Sunday Shootout is highly regarded Aucklander Rhetts Purcell.

The 21-year-old, rated number four singles player in the country, says the new format will be interesting to play.

"It is a shorter, more exciting version of the game and a lot more unpredictable. It will be a bit more fun to watch and to play as it is quicker and you can't get as tired," Purcell said.

"I think it is a good opportunity for us to come and play something a bit different and another new tournament in New Zealand. We don't have that many opportunities to play tournaments here so it will be good. Also they have a whole lot of new courts down there so it will be good to play on those."

Young Otumoetai player Caelen Potts is also competing with Joseph Samuel Welsh, Logan Nathan, Justin Megraw, Kalais Going, Kelly Southwood, Oliver Petri, Daniel Brown, Jackson Loomb, Nick Beamish, James Wilce, Jackson Fraser, Alexander Klintcharov, Sean Martin and Jesse Galvin-Dawson.

Entry is free for spectators with the action beginning tomorrow at 3.30pm.

Information: sundayshootout.co.nz.