A GROUP of young tennis players from Bendigo will get an up-close taste of the Australian Open on Sunday.

The 10 young tennis aces will take part in an Australian Open “Kids on Court Experience” at Melbourne Park.

As part of the experience, which is an initiative of Tennis Australia, the young players, who will be accompanied by Bendigo tennis coaches Steve Storer and Bree Smith, will have the opportunity to play on one of the showcourts before a main draw match.

As well as the opportunity to play on one of the showcourts, the young players will also have access to the corridors of Melbourne Park.

Sunday will be day seven of the Australian Open and will be the start of round four matches in the men’s and women’s singles.

Whose attending the Open: Phillipa Pearse, Ella Johns, Amy Jefferis, Kayla Therese, Ciarne Begg, Rielle Begg, Hudson Woods, Jemima Woods, Daisy Saunders, Cooper McConnell.

Meanwhile, Bendigo’s Finlay Lockhart has been chosen as one of the Hot Shots participants who will toss a coin before one of Sunday’s matches at the Open.

The special coin Finlay will toss features 1962 and 1969 Grand slam champion Rod Laver engraved on the “heads” side and a tennis ball on the “tails side”.

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