40 contest junior tennis champs

Top junior tennis players took to the Nikao Tennis Centre courts this week for the ANZ national junior champs tournament.

Forty budding tennis stars have been battling it out at the courts over the last three days with the best in the under 8, 10, 12 and under 16 division squaring off yesterday for the grand finals.

Those players excelling in their respective age grades also had the opportunity to step up and take on players in the age category above them.

Tennis coach Malcolm Kajer says that the kids that have taken part in the school holiday tournament are players that already have a strong grasp of the games.

In fact, most of the kids taking part in the tournament already have international experience having been part of the national team that toured New Zealand in December and Fiji in August.

And the skills and games played during the three day tournament have been super hot.

Luke Rous has been the standout player in the under 8 division and will step up and play in the under 10 division.

Joshua Williams and Elijah Amataiti are the two players to watch in the under 10 division and they are currently ranked 1st and 2nd in the division.

The doubles competition was also hotly contested with the grand finals of both the singles and doubles division in all age grade played yesterday but due to heavy winds and passing showers the grand finals were delayed although a decent crowd of parents and supporters braved the elements to cheer on the mini tennis stars.