Players dust off their racquets and clubs have the balls at the ready for the new summer of tennis

After a long and cold winter, players in the Great Southern are dusting off their racquets and clubs have the balls at the ready for the new summer of tennis.

The Lower Great Southern Tennis Association is preparing for another big season and players have begun sharpening their skills ahead of big events at a range of different clubs.

The first major event is Kendenup’s popular open mixed doubles tournament on October 31 followed by their junior doubles tournament on November 14.

Tenterden will host their annual junior doubles event on December 19, the event one of the oldest still being run in the State after first being held in 1947.

Emu Point will host the annual Albany Open doubles event in January, and Bremer Bay will have a junior tournament in the same month.

Throughout February and March players in the region will be able to take part in the Oncourt Tennis teams’ event, the LGSTA junior singles championships, Lawley Park’s Graeme Heal Plate which is a doubles event and Tenterden’s annual mixed doubles tournament.

LGSTA president Les Bairstow is excited about the upcoming season. “The summer of tennis in the region is looking to be one of the busiest for some time,” he said.

“It absolutely has been a long winter waiting for the start of the season.

“There’s a lot of keen tennis players ready to get back out on the court.

“From Tenterden to Bremer Bay and all points in between, our LGSTA clubs will be holding social tennis every Saturday afternoon as well as tournaments and events throughout the season.

“Junior and senior coaching and fitness programs are in full swing now.

“Tennis West will be visiting Albany in late November to conduct a foundation coaching course at Lawley Park.

“This course is aimed to give club players and parents an insight into basic coaching skills and it's great to see a large number of enrolments already.”

Lawley Park held their opening day on Saturday with more than 35 members and visitors from Merrifield Park and Emu Point turning up to play social tennis throughout the afternoon.

A clock tournament was held with Louise Nolan and Bryce Robinson recording the highest scores for the afternoon.