The new junior tennis season is here, and in terms of numbers, it’s one of Echuca Tennis Club’s biggest ever.
Junior tennis is booming in Echuca.
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Echuca Tennis Club is feeling the impact, fielding 14 teams for the coming Campaspe Tennis Association season — two more than last year.
Coordinators Lauri Melville and Roxanne Dicketts have barely caught their breath navigating the logistical challenges of registering 70 players.
But they will when the first serves are struck this Saturday morning.
“We've been really surprised and overwhelmed by the growth in junior tennis, and we're so happy the players are able to enjoy it as well, which is what it's all about,” Dicketts said.
“When we had all the registrations come in, it was fabulous because it just shows the interest we have in our town.”
To quote Dicketts, Echuca is one of, if not the biggest producer, of junior tennis talent in the Campaspe region.
But even so, the club’s footprint over the three CTA divisions this season is staggering.
There’s a decent chance a local winner could come from each grade, if you’re going off its sheer number of teams.
In A-grade, Echuca occupies six of the eight slots, and another four in B and C-grade. That’s almost 50 per cent of the association.
“We have such a stronghold, which is great, but we also want to transfer that into the seniors as well and develop that link,” Dicketts said.
“We also want everyone to enjoy the sport, whether from a social perspective or more seriously by developing their skills.”
A handy player herself, Roxanne Dicketts is clearly passionate about developing more talent for the club’s senior program.
There’s a clear development pathway which also draws in players with varied experience.
But it doesn’t mean Echuca’s C-grade sides are beginners.
Well, they are, but as Dicketts frames it, beginning a junior tennis career rather than having a hit for fun.
“These are players who want to step up their knowledge of the game, understanding how to score, how to serve,” she said.
“I think some people think it's just a bit of fun on the side, ‘Let's just play tennis’, but this is for those who are serious about following through with the sport.”
The junior cohort also comes into 2026-27 well-prepared.
Additional courts in the winter months allowed the club to keep players sharp.
Now they’ll look to slice up opponents, with every team in action from 9am this Saturday across various courts in the region.
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