The national junior tennis team is in Auckland to compete at the Junior Tennis- East Pacific Regional Qualifiers 2022, starting this Sunday (Cook Islands time).

The team of 11 including manager Kura Karika-Une and coach Malcolm Kajer left the country early yesterday morning.

The players representing Tennis Cook Islands in this competition include:

16U Boys – Maka Maui and Luke Pierre; 16U Girls – Timeri Wearing; 14U Girls – Raetea Rongo and Tekura Tamangaro; 12U Boys – Harold Browne, Armani Roi and Mareko Webb and 12U Girls – Maiata Matheson.

“I would like to say a big meitaki ma’ata to everyone that has supported us ... the executives, parents, friends, families, sponsors, and our Tennis Community!  We appreciate every single one of you!” Karika-Une said.

“I have four newbies this trip, they will soon learn the ropes with Oceania competitions, the highs the lows and all the in betweens. The hope is that this lights that fire within them to compete, learn, improve and perfect their tennis and aim high to better themselves.

“It will be a cold one in Auckland, but we will keep warm and safe, play our best, and make you all proud!”

Cook Islands will compete against Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti in this tournament.

The last time the national team played was pre-Covid in New Zealand in 2019.