Happy Valley SA, Australia, 11 February 2014 | Tennis Australia

The Australian Pro Tour will continue its South Australian leg next week at the City of Onkaparinga International (men’s) and at the City of Salisbury Tennis International (women’s).

Junior Grand Slam champion and Riverland local Luke Saville (Barmera, SA) and local talent Alex Bolt (Murray Bridge SA) will lead a world class field at the men’s tournament to be held at Happy Valley Tennis Club on 15-23 February 2014.

Bolt, 21, will be looking to defend his title at home after winning the City of Onkaparinga International in September 2012.

World No.273 Matthew Barton (NSW),Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) and up and coming talent Australian Open wildcard winner Jordan Thompson (NSW) are just some of the other players who will compete for $15,000USD in prize money.

Joining the Australians will be international players from Japan, Slovak Republic, Great Britain and Korea.

Young guns Darren K.Polkinghorne (Port Lincoln, SA), Bradley Mousley (Wynn Vale, SA) and Lawrence Bataljin (Adelaide, SA) will vie for a place in the main draw when qualifying begins on Sunday.

Tournament Director of the City of Onkaparinga Tennis International, Dylan Hicks, believes the event is a great opportunity for national talent to gain valuable match experience against international players as they climb the world’s rankings.

“To have players come to Happy Valley and play alongside our national talent is fantastic for the tournament and the Australian Pro Tour,” Hicks said.

Hicks also praised the City of Onkaparinga Council for their ongoing support and encouraged the community to get behind the future of Australian tennis at the event.

Tennis SA and the City of Onkaparinga expect the local community will once again head down to watch the next generation of tennis stars take their next step onto the global tennis stage at this free community event.