mmg.com.au

Cobram Lawn Tennis Club’s 88th annual Labour Day Tournament will see three days of cracking tennis action get underway on Saturday.

Tournament director Brad Adams said the headline player and No.1 seed for this year’s women’s draw was Azra Hadzic, who is ranked 14th in Australia and 410th in the world.

‘‘Azra has spent the past 12 months playing ITF tournaments around Australia and the world,’’ he said.

‘‘The Cobram Lawn Tennis Club’s annual Labour Day tournament has solidified itself as one of Victoria’s premier lawn court destinations, with 380 players and 570 entries taking part in events totalling $10000 in cash and trophies.

‘‘We invite spectators to come along and enjoy all the action. Play starts at 8am daily and runs over three days from Saturday to Monday.’’

Joining Hadzic as fellow contenders will be Kate Antosik (ranked 99), Danielle McIntyre (104) and multiple winner Lauren Warden in the 14-player field.

Hadzic will provide the opportunity for local tennis enthusiasts to see a rising young player first-hand.

In the men’s singles, top seed Sam Dowler (67), Matthew Nickels (104) and three-time winner Ashleigh Janke will be the players to watch. Janke will be aiming for a fourth win and will be hard to beat in a tournament he has made his own.

Club president Peter Beasley said there were plenty of local children playing in the junior categories.

‘‘It’s pleasing that the same people keep coming back to play,’’ he said.

‘‘That reflects well on the way the courts are presented and the way the tournament is run.’’

He said the men’s singles field was looking healthy with between 50 and 60 competitors entered, as well as ‘‘huge numbers’’ in the C-grade events.

The three-day event has booked out accommodation well in advance in Cobram-Barooga.

Colonial Motor Inn’s Jennie Gould said her motel was booked out every year with the same groups of people.

‘‘We’ve had one family staying with us for 20 years, and a club staying with us for about 25 years,’’ she said.

‘‘Every motel in town would be the same.

‘‘Our guests eat in the town and a lot of the young people buy sporting goods. Some people camp, but most stay in motels and they stay together with their teams.’’

The majority of the singles heat events will be played on Saturday, while most of Sunday will be set aside for the doubles.

The finals will be played from noon on Monday.

The tournament is part of the Australian Money Tournaments and is rated a silver series event, with more than $5000 in prizemoney up for grabs — by far the most offered in the Goulburn Murray area for a tennis tournament. Entry is free and refreshments are available.