The steady improvement in Otago junior tennis over the past three years was demonstrated when nine players from the province were selected for the Southern Districts teams for the national team championships next month.
When Simon Body became the Otago professional coach three years ago he indicated it would take time to lift the standards.
"The kids have been learning over the last two years," Body said. "The result is a good reflection of the hard work the players are putting in."
There are 25 places available in the Southern Districts team for the championships in the five teams.
In 2006 and 2007 three players were named in the team.
The two best Otago players in the team are Libby Scott (15), a pupil at Otago Girls High School, and St Hildas Collegiate pupil Sian English (13).
English is ranked in the top six in the country in her age-group and Scott in the top 10.
The age-16 competition is being held in Christchurch, the age-14 at Auckland and the age-12 in Timaru.
The teams.- Girls age 16: Libby Scott, Brittany Wong. Girls age 14: Sian English, Georgia Hume. Girls age 12: Hanna English, Jessie Stevenson. Boys age 14: Ryan Eggers. Boys age 12: Henry Hailes, Carlos Reid.
