At least $1.6 million is expected to be tipped into the Border economy as 191 teams from across Victoria and NSW descend on Wodonga’s grasscourts for the annual fixture.

It comes less than a month after almost 2000 people contributed $4 million to the region for the Margaret Court Cup and Victorian Grasscourt Tennis Championships as well as the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup.

The Border’s pubs, clubs and restaurant will reap the benefits of Country Week tennis, which has a greater social aspect to it than the January tournaments.

“This is the sixth time the Wodonga Tennis Centre has hosted the event and we know there are a lot of returning players not only just for Country Week but who also the visit the area throughout the year, so it’s a great opportunity to showcase our region,” Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said.

Tournament manager Pat Gilchrist said this week’s event was the biggest in four years and included a team from Mandurah in Western Australia.

“We’ve had a fantastic response, the teams have come from far and wide,” she said.

“The tennis is the common denominator but there’s also the social aspect where they can play all day and then go out and play all night.

“They have a good time here, there’s no doubt about that.”

One such team is the Mt Prospect Constructa Beavers, who traveled from Ballarat for their fifth consecutive year of Country Week.

Team spokeswoman Helen Cassidy said playing tennis was “secondary to having a good time, maybe even third”.

She said the group put countless hours into coming up with a theme each year and often the biggest challenge was getting their team name past Gilchrist and fellow organiser Carol Pearce.

“We absolutely love Country Week,” she said.

“We’re always the Beavers and the theme changes each year. 

“It’s all about the hat for us and this year it’s construction.

“A lot of planning goes into and there’s always a lot of names thrown around. “

While the tennis isn’t always top priority, the standard of the 94 courts on both sides of the Border is and Gilchrist was full of praise for curator Shayne Ried.

She said matches had to be played at Albury’s grasscourts this year with the increase in teams.

“The courts are just phenomenal here,” she said.

“Shayne is a magician.”

The tournament moves to Yarrawonga next year as part of the rotation between Wodonga, Shepparton and Swan Hill.

“When we finish work here we will start work on the next one,” she said.

“It’s a massive event.”