Eight Moree tennis players compete at Junior Development Series in Gunnedah

Emma Maunder, Alice Maher, Chloe Flegerbein, Kianah Randall, Jack Rogers, Emily Maher, Lauren Appleby and Dejan Dujlic all took part, competing against around 130 other players on the day.

This event was the first of 10 JDS tournaments that are scheduled for the North West this year, with one supposed to be held in Armidale in early February that was washed out.

Flegerbein and Appleby were the big winners on the day, winning the open women's singles and 14 girls singles draws respectively.

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Emily Maher was runner-up in the 10 girls singles while Dejlic made it to the quarter finals of the 10 boys singles.

The series culminates with the best eight players in each age group playing against the North Coast at Inverell in August.

From there, northern NSW's best juniors will compete at the state JDS finals, pitted against the best players from the state's other regions.

Director of the Gunnedah tournament Dale Martin said a "great day was had by all."

"We probably haven't had numbers like this for seven or eight years," he said.

"So it was very encouraging for not only tennis in Gunnedah but across our whole region."

Martin attributed the high numbers to the wash out of the Armidale tournament, as well as world number one Ash Barty playing at the Australian Open in January.

"A lot of the local juniors obviously get a lot keener with the TV exposure the Australian Open produces, but are very much inspired by someone like Ash's attitude and demeanour," he said.

Moree Tennis Club are also getting ready to kick off their autumn competition this month.

The competition will begin on Friday, March 20 and will run for eight weeks, with games played between 3.30pm to 5.30pm on Friday afternoons.

Registration days will be held at the clubhouse on Wednesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 11 from 3.45pm to 5pm.