The pair competed in the Australian Seniors Tennis Tournament held in Hobart in January and enjoyed the chance to not only play some top quality tennis, but to socialise with other players as well.

Val and Wendy both represented New South Wales at the tournament, playing on separate teams in the 60 to 69 years division.

With 600 players taking part in the competition, including players from Japan and New Zealand, the quality of tennis was very high.

“All the matches were very hard,” Val said.

“The teams were very good,” Wendy added.

“I thought the Queensland side was particularly strong.”

Both ladies found the competition to be a big change for the fun-focused local matches they usually enjoy.

“It’s a different sort of tennis to what we play locally,” Val said.

“It makes you think about your own tennis so much more and the extended rallies… you think you’ll hit a winning shot only to have it come back at you.

“When you get to our age you get cunning with your tennis – lots of drop shots and lobs.”

While the chance to hone their tennis against competitive players was welcome to both women, it is the social side of seniors tennis that keeps them coming back.

Both ladies have played in seniors tournaments before and said the shared passion for tennis which all players shared gave them a great foundation for forming lasting friendships.

“It is a great chance to meet new people in your own sport,” Val said.

“And to catch up with people you have met in the past.

“Over the years I have made that many friends through tennis.

“At this weekend’s tournament in Ulladulla we have a lass coming from San Francisco who I met at one of these.”

While both Val and Wendy are happily married, the ladies commented that seniors tournaments would be a great chance to meet a potential partner.

“It’s a great opportunity for single people or widows to meet people,” Wendy said.

Both ladies agreed that the social side of the tournament was just as much fun as the tennis each day, enjoying meals out with other players each evening.

And the wind down at the end of the day was needed with the two women helping their teams through nine games across five days.

The tennis started at 8am each morning and ran through until 7pm in the evening with each team playing twice a day and contesting eight sets during each game.

“You improve day by day,” Wendy said.

“I find the more you play, the better you play.”

The ladies both did well with Val’s team coming in fourth and Wendy’s in fifth in the comp.

Wendy will keep her tennis in top shape by playing in the Milton-Ulladulla District Tennis Association’s 16th Annual Seniors Tennis Tournament, being organised and run by Val.

When the ladies are not busy with seniors tournaments, they play in the Monday Ladies Competition and also enjoy playing social tennis at the Ulladulla Tennis Centre.

Both ladies encouraged anyone interested in picking up tennis as a sport to come along to the courts and join a game.