18 June 2018 | Tennis Queensland

There’s just one week to go until the state’s richest and most esteemed amateur tournament swing arrives in Brisbane.

The Shaw Park Open, Queensland Open (Australia’s highest paying Australian Money Tournament) and Rod Laver Junior events bring the sport’s brightest talent to the river city: the tournament swing has been rebranded this year to The Queensland Tennis Festival.

First played in 1988, the Queensland Open may have changed in status over the years, but it’s honour honour roll remains legendary, featuring names such as Mal Anderson, Roy Emerson , Ken Rosewall and Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Key to the Grand Series is the Rod Laver Queensland Junior Championships presented by Tennis Gear. Last year, 1543 matches were held across five days at what’s become the largest event for young players in the country.

More than 695 players from 13 countries and all states and territories in Australia took part in both the lead in and actual event, culminating in a massive day of finals on Sunday 9 July.

Given the depth of the tournament, Queensland players held their own – taking out 6 of the 11 singles events. Winners from Queensland included Connor McEvoy in the 8/u Singles, Emerson Jones in the 10/u Girls Singles, Jessica-Jade Halo in the 12/u Girls Singles, Mikayla Zahirovic in the 14/u Girls Singles, Megan Smith in the 16/u Girls Singles, Chen Dong in the 16/u Boys Singles and Danielle Morris in the 18/u Girls Singles. These players join a star-studded honour roll that includes players like Sam Stosur, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, and Ash Barty.

The Shaw Park Open kicks off the Grand Series next week, with Rod Laver Junior lead in events from 6 July.