Top regional players take part in tour
![Callum Battersby trains for the 12-day tennis tour of the east coast starting this week.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/YA-395422/050116alasptour003_1b8m4hv-1b8m4i9.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Some of the Great Southern's brightest tennis talent will get to take on the best players from around the country and the world as part of a 12-day tennis tour starting this week.
Albany pair Matthew Watkins and Callum Battersby are among the eight regional players that will be a part of the ninth annual Albany Tennis Academy tour to the east coast which will incorporate playing in tournaments and also attending the Australian Open.
A touring squad of 18 players, from metropolitan and regional areas will head to Albury, New South Wales where they will play in the Margaret Court Cup and the Victorian Grass Court Championships, which are both Gold Australian Ranking tournaments.
Players from all over Australia and countries around the world will be playing in these events, giving the local touring party great exposure to different players.
The group will then get an all-access look at the Australian Open grand slam for two full days as part of their visit. Several players in the touring party have previously attended and the trip was made easier by heavy fundraising in the months leading up.
ATA head coach David Kerr said this was a fantastic overall experience for the players who make the commitment.
"We have a great mix of country and city kids. We love taking WA kids out of the fishbowl and getting them to enjoy these big events, with players from all over the world there," he said.
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