About 32 of the state’s most promising young tennis stars have been selected to participate in the inaugural Medibank Challenge.

Country versus City juniors will hit it out at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on January 15.

Four junior boys and girls were selected in each age group to take part.

The event coincides with the 2010 Medibank International Tournament.

The Men’s Singles and Doubles semi finals and the final of the Ladies’ Singles and Doubles will take place in the evening.

Kayla is excited about participating and watching international players at the top of their game.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the tournament.

“I get to play girls and mixed doubles and seeing professional players play,” she said.

Kayla was chosen due to her ranking in the country juniors division.

She is among the four top-ranked junior tennis players in regional NSW.

Contributing to her ranking was her performance in the State Masters in Gosford last year where she made it to the quarter finals.

Kayla would like to be a professional tennis player one day.

She is certainly heading in the right direction, playing at the 12-year-old Australian championships before Christmas and winning her first round. She made it to semi-finals in Consolation Singles and made it to quarter finals in Doubles.

Kayla’s mother is happy to see Kayla make it to the 2010 Medibank Challenge.

“It’s always good to play at higher level. Going to Sydney is a good opportunity for Kayla to play at a higher level and a good bonus for country children,” Kylie Wicks said. Kayla is currently attending NEGS boarding school at Armidale.

She has been helped in her tennis performance by school coach Justin Sherriff.

She enjoys playing tennis with friends and fellow students Kirsty and Rachael Assef from Moree.

Previously Steve Starke in Moree coached her.