The Bendigo Tennis Association is preparing to launch its summer competition season in the coming weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last week Regional Victoria was given the green light to return to non-contact sport, which includes tennis competitions, singles and doubles play and group coaching of up to 10 participants.
Fosterville Gold Tennis Centre general manager James Rouel said despite a slight delay the season would only be about two weeks behind schedule.
"The announcement last week has paved the way for both junior and senior competitions to return and at this stage we're eyeing to start it around October 6 but we will really kick everything off closer to October 16," Rouel said.
"Juniors and seniors can commence now, but we've chosen to hold it off for a couple weeks to make sure we give all the clubs and players adequate time to prepare and be organised."
Rouel has been working busily behind the scenes getting everything ready, in addition to standing for the Whipstick ward in the upcoming council elections.
"There's been a lot of stuff going on in regards to making sure we're COVID compliant as well as looking at membership and competition prices to make sure what we offer is affordable and gives everyone the opportunity to play tennis," he said.
"We're also receiving high interest with a few new entries which has been fantastic.
"We're fortunate in the fact that tennis is non-contact and we're able to play before other sports can get back to action."
Regional Victorian tennis coaches can also resume group sessions with a maximum of 10 participants, while of course observing all COVID-19 restrictions such as contract tracing, sanitising etc.
However, one casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic is the annual ITF Women's Pro Tour which is usually held in Bendigo around early October.
The event attracts some of the world's best female players to the Bendigo which also marks the lead-up to the Australian summer of tennis.
"It's unfortunate that we won't be able to hold the Women's Pro Tour this year given all that's going on," Rouel said.
"But we are hoping to have another event in January, so watch this space and we will see how we go.
"Like a lot of major tennis events at the moment, we're in a bit of a holding pattern."
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
