The region’s biggest tournament gets under way today with an opening ceremony and the commencement of the teams event.

Wurtz will start his cup campaign in singles later in the week but warmed up perfectly by winning the under-9 title at the Goulburn Valley Junior Championships in Shepparton.

The eight-year-old tennis fanatic defeated Essendon’s William Klein-Marantelli in the final to become the first Albury winner of the event.

But he’ll face competition from much further afield at Wodonga in the widest-reaching Margaret Court Cup yet.

Tasmania will be the only state not represented this year with entrants coming from as far as Albany in Western Australia with around 350 competitors in total.

Tournament director Dom Mahaffey said the Albury Grasscourts were in pristine condition and preparations for the eighth Margaret Court Cup had gone smoothly.

Mahaffey said former Australian Davis Cup player Rex Hartwig will open the cup from 8.30am.

“We’re basically putting some signage up and we’re ready to go,” said the veteran administrator.

“The courts are looking good, they have probably dried out a bit with the wind, but hopefully they stand up OK.”

In the under 18 boys, fourth seed Jarrod Liston appears the Border’s best chance of bringing home the silverware after promising form but he will have to topple fancied Wagga player Michael Tymkiw.

Reigning under 18 girls champion Abigail Tere-Apisah will not defend her title.

The Papua New Guinean has had a huge impact since relocating to Albury but has had her summer disrupted by a serious ankle injury.

Lewis Ahern is the Border’s biggest challenger in the 16 boys and has been named the No.8 seed while Holbrook’s Alyssa Savill will be firmly in contention in the under 14 girls.

The main tournament will start with different age groups from tomorrow after some of the players get a chance to warm up in the teams event.

The tournament honours the Albury-born Court, 66, who won a calendar Grand Slam in 1970 and 11 Australian Opens.