Juniors face opposition

Marlborough's top juniors will not have it all their own way at the Forrest Winery Marlborough Tennis Centre this weekend as players from Canterbury, Nelson and the North Island hit town for the Marlborough Junior Open.

With an international event on in Ashburton this week as part of a three week ITF under-18 circuit, the older girls' age groups especially are depleted with just four girls, headed by Marlborough's Lily O'Fagan, contesting the 16s age group.

Nelson's Henry Neas is favoured in the boys' 16s, with Marlborough's Andrew Forgesson expected to be the player to beat in the boys' 14s.

Numbers in the lower age groups are especially pleasing for the future with 17 boys and nine girls in the 10 and under grades.

First and third seeds from Marlborough, Jack Winstanley and Torban Otway, will have to contend with No2 seed from Opawa in Christchurch, Angus Hamilton.

In the girls', two players from the Beckenham Club in Christchurch, Jodie Dean and Luka Simmers will provide a good challenge for Marlborough's top hope 8-year-old Jade Otway.

Marlborough's Josh Gwynne and Jean-Luc Hauswirth are fourth and fifth seeds in the boys' 12s, but will face a stern examination from the Christchurch trio of Zin South, Josh Murison and Eddie Batt in a 16-player field.

The strength of the visitors in the girls' 12/14s is reflected in the best Marlborough hopes not being seeded. Canterbury's Holly Matson is a strong favourite to take the title.

The tournament starts at 1pm today and runs through until Sunday, with finals played from Sunday morning onwards.

- © Fairfax NZ News