With footy and soccer in the rear-view mirror, the image of lush, verdant grass conjures up another mental image as we move further into spring and summer – time to break out the racquets and crack open a new can of balls, because it’s time for tennis.

The Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Croquet and Pickleball Club (WLTCP) is kicking off its 2025/26 summer tennis season this weekend, with open days from this Saturday for juniors and seniors of all ability levels.

From 9am this Saturday, 4 October, the gorgeous grass courts at Merriwa Park will be alive with action.

The juniors will hit the grass first, with their free come and try day open to anyone who wants to pick up a racquet and have a hit this season – even if you don’t have a racquet of your own, the club has some to lend.

There will be information about the club’s coaching program, HotShots skills clinics, and the junior Saturday morning competition for those who want to test themselves against their peers.

Club coaches will also be running clinics throughout the morning, and the courts will be open for play.

The seniors aggregate open day runs from 1.30pm – register your interest in participating in the weekly Saturday competition by 12.30pm on the day, or by contacting (03) 5721 2438 and leaving your name and contact details be-forehand.

WLTCP president Barry Sullivan said the season was shaping up to be a massive one for the thriving local club.

“The grass has struck unusually early this year, so the courts are looking amazingly green, normally they’re still a bit dormant,” he said.

“The courts have been playing pretty well all over winter, but to have them greened up at this time of the year is a real bonus.

“It should be a classic weekend this weekend, it’s supposed to be a nice temperature, clear sunny day, so there’s no excuse – time to get out there and have a hit.”

On top of the junior and senior open days this weekend, the ever-popular twilight tennis is about to commence, with the first round on Monday, 13 October (B grade) and Tuesday, 14 October (A grade).

“If anyone’s interested in getting a team together, two female and two male, that would be perfectly fine,” Sullivan said.

“You just have to register interest through Stephen [Russell 0423 236 907] or Shaun [Ablazej, 0409 229 695].”

Croquet and pickleball are also played down at Merriwa Park, with the croquet arm hosting try-outs and competition on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm, while courts are always available for hire for pickleball.

While excitement for the start of the tennis season is always sky-high, a historic milestone for the club lurks just in the distance.

In January, WLTCP will host the 100th running of their immensely popular Australia Day tournament, and they’re pulling out all the stops to make sure it’s one to remember.

While planning for the event goes on in the background, the club is encouraging anyone with even a slight interest in having a hit this year to come down on Saturday, 4 October.

“Already we’re seeing quite a deal of interest, and we’re hoping that it becomes a bumper season for us,” Sullivan said.

“It’s clearly up, there seems to be a lot of interest in the season.

“I think the addition of our new coach [Greg Duns] last year, who was just getting his feet under the desk, so to speak, has really gotten things moving.

“I think he’s already got more coaching opportunities than he’s had for a long time, and we’re really optimistic about getting the juniors and seniors off to a flyer.”