Tennis: Young stars on court of dreams

Anyone for tennis? Yes, plenty, if the activity on the courts of Auckland these school holidays is an indication. KATHERINE HOBY checks out the talent.

They may be among the youngest players on the circuit, but these kids are keen to make a racket.

Budding tennis aces as young as 6 and 7 are taking to the courts of Auckland and Manukau this week in a series of matches.

Three venues around the city are hosting a tournament for under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 age groups.

The four-day tournament takes place every school holidays, and there are 250 kids competing for centre court privileges this week.

And while their younger counterparts serve up a storm, more than 100 players in the under-18 age group are battling it out for international ranking points in the Club Med Eighteen and Under NZ Indoor Championships.

Auckland Tennis operations manager Richard Palmer says the city is "a hive of tennis activity" this week. Almost 400 players and their families are in the region to serve, volley and lob up a storm.

Numbers at the tournament have swelled since the ranking was boosted from grade five to grade four, offering more ranking points to winners.

"It has attracted a lot more interest since our status was upped," says a delighted Mr Palmer. "But these ranking points will get the good ones into international grand slam events, so it's exciting."

Eighty competitors have travelled from around New Zealand, rackets in hand and ready to do battle.

"Any kid who is promising, or any good, or who wants to get up there, they come here."

Mr Palmer says there are two or three promising New Zealand players on the international junior circuit.

New Zealand players are volley for volley with Australians until around age 15, he says.

"The New Zealand psyche tends towards team sports, and tennis can be a solitary life. With tennis it's just you out there and you put it all out on the line. But if you're the winner out there, you can take all the glory."

Despite its lonely lifestyle, Mr Palmer says tennis is one of the most popular sports in New Zealand.

International players are highly watchable, both in person and on television, he says.

"The women, especially, are tough, skilful, athletic, and gutsy. What more could you want from a sport?

"And there are bonuses to not being a team sport. Many New Zealanders can go down to their local courts and have a hack around in summer."

More than 60 of the 140 players at Vodafone Tennis Park are from overseas - Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands.

Auckland Tennis Association coach Peter Blow, a national selector, says the number of players in Auckland is "on the up," mainly because of initiatives in schools.

"On the international stage, New Zealand tennis is not doing well at all. But at grass roots, things are happening. It is a work in progress."

* The public are welcome at any of the venues: Bartercard Manukau Tennis Centre, Vodafone Tennis Park in Glen Innes, and the ASB Bank Tennis Centre in Stanley St. The semifinals of the Club Med Eighteen and Under NZ Indoor Championships start at 9 am today.