More than 40 local families traveled to Melbourne Park last week to watch Australia’s biggest tennis event after Benalla Lawn Tennis Club received tickets from Tennis Victoria to distribute to its Hot Shots players.
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With ANZ also providing $500 worth of funding, community play centres across the state were able to send their junior talent off for a day at the tennis.
Benalla Hot Shots’ program co-ordinator Henry Nam said the experience was not one to be missed for the rural city's junior tennis talent.
“It’s a great opportunity for our players to experience the Australian Open and see and get close to some of the world’s best tennis players,” Nam said.
“I find it’s not just about watching these players play. If you can get to a practice court, you can see how much quicker the ball moves out there compared to watching it on television.
“It’s a good opportunity to encourage the kids to keep playing.”
While weather limited some families’ time spent in the tennis precinct, Nam said plenty of families were still able to get in some solid tennis watching. Feedback from the Crook family was they had ``a lot of fun” and thought it was fabulous.
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Nam said the sponsorship money was able to go towards transport, food and accommodation costs for those who attended the Australian Open.