And the action is expected to heat up over the three-day tournament, which attracts Australia’s elite players to compete in the men’s and women’s singles and consolation singles as well as men’s women’s and mixed doubles events.

With the help of major sponsors, South Coast Business and Financial Services and Bungalow Park Big 4 Caravan Park, there will be $7000 prize money up for grabs.

The tournament is designed to offer quality match play opportunities and cater for future players and high A grade club players.

Prize money and Australian ranking points are awarded in accordance with the level of the event, Ulladulla’s being gold.

The Ulladulla region does not have a local competitor, but if anyone could claim local status it would be Lucia Gonzales, who has competed in the tournament since its inception.

The 29-year-old full-time tennis coach at Haberfield Tennis Centre only competes in three tournaments a year since retiring from the sport in a professional capacity in 2008.

But she makes sure Ulladulla’s is the first on her list as, “It’s one of the best tournaments I have been to.”

“The people are so friendly, the club runs a great tournament, and the sponsors have been there since day one. It is really good to see they have supported the tournament for so long,” she said.

“It is also good because the tournament has other little events running at the same time like dash for cash or serving challenges, just so players have a chance to earn more money and have something fun to do at the end of the day. More tournaments should do the same.”

Lucy, for whom she is most known, has won the women’s singles tournament once, but was runner-up last year to her good friend Melissa Anderson.

“We are great friends off the court and on the court have so much respect for each other,” Lucy said.

When they have finished facing off against each other the pair join forces in the doubles, which they won in 2013.

As for this year’s aspirations, Lucy said to make the finals would be good, but she won’t be too shattered if she doesn’t.

“I just like going away, seeing everyone I haven’t seen in a while and having a good weekend,” she said.  

“There are a lot of juniors coming up. I don’t get to see a lot of the kids play, but when I come up I am shocked at how good they are and the talent coming through.”

The Ulladulla community is invited these great players in action for free.

Play will start about 8.30am each day and finish about 6pm.

There are ample viewing opportunities to all 12 courts.

THE South Pacific Open is a gold level tournament – a stepping stone in the pathway developed by Tennis Australia for young, aspiring tennis players to make it to the top in their chosen sport of tennis.

As juniors, players have a choice of five levels of tournaments – white, bronze, silver, gold and platinum, which offer a clear competitive pathway; each level offering Australian ranking points according to the criteria of each level.

Age groups catered for are 12, 14, and 16, with selected tournaments also offering points in the 18 age group.

National and international opportunities are available within this group.

Once out of the junior ranks, and moving into open competition, again five levels of tournament play are presented, once again starting at white then bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

Each level has specific criteria with regard to prize money on offer and ascending level of points that contribute to a player’s individual national ranking.

Platinum is the pinnacle level of open events and is the opportunity to progress to Pro Tour events.

The South Pacific Open, as a gold level, ranks extremely highly on this pathway, being only one level from the top.

The tournament is run professionally, just as any top level tournament that you may see on TV, with the services provided, at a cost to the hosting club, of a tournament director and tournament referee. Preliminary rounds are overseen by trained supervisors who ensure that tennis etiquette is maintained throughout and Ulladulla will supply trained volunteers in this respect.

Once into the semi-final stage, a chair umpire, and linespeople are provided by Tennis Officials Australia, again at a cost to the hosting club, and ballboys/girls, who are Ulladulla volunteering juniors who have participated in a training course, give that extra experience of a tournament at professional level.

Of course, showcasing a tournament of this magnitude takes a lot of organising by the host club, and now into its seventh year, Ulladulla has become one of the first choice tournaments of aspiring players. Sponsorship supplied by two major sponsors, South Coast Business and Financial Solutions for the singles events, and Big4 Bungalow Park at Burrill Lake for the doubles events, guarantee that the tennis club is in a viable position to host this event successfully and the association is grateful for their support.

THE players love to perform to a crowd, and the association is calling on local residents to come along over the course of the weekend to cheer these players on.

The standard of tennis exhibited will excite you; the number one seeds being Sean Carson at No. 70 and Melissa Anderson (last year’s winner) at No. 76 ranked in Australia.

Along with off court activities involving prizes to be won by spectators in “The Big Wheel Keeps Turning”, barbecue and refreshment tent, canteen, and children’s playground, a visit to the tennis centre over the weekend will be an enlightening experience.