Wānaka Tennis Club is set to be the venue for the southern region’s premier tennis teams event this weekend.

Four teams make up the Division One Southern Region Senior Teams Event entries - Southern Lakes, Otago, Southland and a combined North Otago/South Canterbury team.

The Southern Lakes team - made up of Wānaka and Queenstown players - has had a firm grip on the trophy over the past 20 years, winning all but two of the titles, and the team plans to come back with “all guns blazing”, Wānaka Tennis Club says.

“The team will be playing all day Saturday (November 22) and Sunday morning (November 23) at the Wānaka courts and members and public are most welcome to come along to watch and support your local team.”

The Southern Lakes team features an “absolutely stacked line up” on the men’s side, the club said. 

It includes the Milburn brothers Dan and Noa who are both number one ranked juniors in New Zealand for 17-and-under and 15-and-under respectively, and Queenstown tennis legend and two-time Wimbledon quarter finalist Ben McLachlan.

Also on the lineup is Doug Bohaboy, who reached a career high ranking of number 250 in singles on the ATP world tour and played at the highest level of US college tennis; former New Zealand junior representative and US college tennis scholarship player Harry James; and New Zealand Davis Cup legend and former world top 200 player Alistair Hunt.

The women’s line up may not feature international pros but there are some great local players, the club said, with Wānaka locals Katya Burgess, Sally Currie, and junior standout Kaitlyn Tooley taking the court.

Recent addition to the club Marina Sokolinkova, who impressed the crowds at the Wānaka Open women’s final in January, is making her Southern Lakes debut, and Wānaka coach Amanda Trail (a former WTA world top 500 player) may be called on as a doubles specialist. 

Saturday evening is a particular good time to head along and catch some of the action.

“A few of the top feature matches will be played on Saturday evening from 5pm with the BBQ going and drinks at the bar,” Wānaka Tennis Club said. 

PHOTO: Supplied