Lillian Maui in NZ for more competition

Top Cook Islands tennis player Lillian Maui heads away this Easter weekend to compete in two junior tournaments in Auckland in the under 18 division.

This campaign follows Maui’s double gold win at the Waikato Bays Christmas Tournament in Hamilton and the Poverty Bay Christmas Tournament in Gisborne late last year.

In her first tournament, Maui will be up against a pool of 15 other girls in the Northern Easter Junior Tournament to be held between April 10 and 13 at the Albany Tennis Park at Morrison Court.

Tennis Cook Islands president Madeilene Sword has every confidence in Maui’s capabilities. Coach Malcolm Kajer has been working daily with Maui who has put in the effort and hard work of getting tournament ready from fitness to playing time with the top male players.

“I’ve never seen her so match ready,” says Sword.

“I’m privileged to be able to see one of our junior players peaking, and I believe Lilli has a lot more to offer tennis in the years to come.

She just needs to be able to be given the opportunities that are so readily available to other players in New Zealand and Australia – and we along with some keen sponsors plan to help Lilli achieve.”

Maui will also compete in the Auckland Easter Junior Tournament which will run from April 16 to 21 at the Scarbro Tennis Centre in Glen Innes.

“At this stage entries are still open so it’s a bit hard to gauge who she will be up against but Auckland is the home of tennis in New Zealand so I’m sure she’ll be guaranteed some strong competition.”

Having just turned 18 last week, this is Maui’s last year to be playing in the junior division. Tennis Cook Islands is banking on Maui to once again represent the Cook Islands at the annual Pacific Oceania Junior (POJC) Tournament in Lautoka, Fiji to be held in August this year.

This month’s tennis match play will go a long way in assisting with improving her placement at the POJC.

Maui’s 2012 Easter tennis campaign is a self-funded exercise and Maui would like to take this opportunity to convey her gratitude to her family, friends and supporters for assisting with her fundraiser last week.

Sword says that if anyone is able to assist Maui financially, in her quest for high achievement in tennis, to make contact with her or any one from the tennis executive.