This weekend, the biggest annual event on the Katherine Tennis Club’s calendar, the Katherine Open, will take place, attracting the top senior and junior players from across the Territory.
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Players compete for a prizemoney pool of $2000 and a bevvy of national ranking points.
The Open is not just for serious players with social and family events creating a fun weekend for players of all levels.
The Open men’s and women’s singles and doubles events are the most serious events with winners taking away a few hundred dollars in pocket money for their efforts.
In the men's draw, 2015 and 2016 men’s champion Daniel Parker of Palmerston will return to attempt a hat-trick.
He will have some tough competition from other visiting players such as Ben McLachlan, Howard Max Tolstoy and Howard Ho who are ranked among the top 300 players in Australia.
In the women's draw, Rosie Henderson is will also be back to defend her women’s title.
Darwin-based Rosie is ranked 176 on the Australian rankings and will also be attempting to win the doubles title with sister Grace.
Junior players competing in the 12, 14 and 16 and under events can also earn much sought after national ranking points.
Younger and beginning juniors aren’t left out, with a 10 and under event as well as competitions for kids who are still progressing through though Red Ball, Orange Ball and Green Ball development stages.
For the not-so serious adult players, the social open singles and doubles events provide a great way for players of all levels to get involved. And to round off the carnival, the famous Family Doubles will coincide with the club’s fundraiser dinner on the Saturday night.
The local contingent will find it hard to compete with the strong Darwin competitors but we will have our eye talented junior girls Dawnellen Batkin and Peggy Magee.
Eugene Bolton and Rafael Fulmanski have been competing in Darwin and Palmerston tournaments recently and will be looking for similarly good results in Katherine.
Other keen locals will be participating in social events and will be certain to also get a cheer from the local crowd.
The tournament starts on Saturday morning and runs all weekend.
Finals will be played on Monday morning followed by presentations. Members of the public are welcome to come and check out the action.
The Katherine Open is organised by the Katherine Tennis Club with great support from Tennis NT. Local sponsors have also made invaluable contributions, including Whitehouse Furnishers, NJ Homes and Advanced Plumbing.
