Youngsters star despite a stormy start to open

Wanganui's Basia Sosnowska is watched by doubles partner Aleesha Duxfield during their game at the Wanganui courts yesterday. PHOTOS/BEVAN CONLEY 290913WCBRCTEN03

Wanganui tennis is back for another summer of slam but Old Man Winter hadn't quite released his hold for the start of the Dunlop Slazenger Wanganui Open at the weekend.

Stormy conditions on Saturday meant spells on and off court for the open men's, 10 years and 14 years age group games.

The open serves as part of a tri-series between other tournaments in Manawatu and Wellington, and Wanganui development officer Wilton Atkins said many of the entrants play in all three to increase their chances in the draw to win tickets to the 2014 Australian Open.

It was a smaller men's field due to ITF tournaments being held in Waikato and upcoming in Auckland, but No1 seed Kyle Butters wasn't complaining.

Wanganui's international-calibre player was having his first hit-out of any kind since the winter. He has been training to build his strength as well as knuckling down to schoolwork.

At press time yesterday, Butters had won through to the final against Wanganui's Patrice Mathey.

The teenager said his immediate focus is the New Zealand residential championships at the end of the year.

Butters' first cousin Paige Hourigan is already making headlines in the new season the day before she tasted success at the ITF Waikato-Bays 18-and-Under Championships.

Hourigan claimed the girls singles title, beating Australian Alicia Smith in the final 6-2 6-0.

She then teamed with Kelly Drew in the doubles and they beat Sade Atkinson and Claudia Williams, 6-1 6-0 in the final.

Interestingly, Hourigan had been expected to be a linchpin for New Zealand's Junior Federation Cup team for the world finals in Mexico this month, but withdrew in the quest to earn more ITF points in order to get to the Junior Australian Championships again this season.

The Wanganui Open continues with the 16s and 12s age groups today, finishing on Wednesday.