Albury’s Margaret Court Cup up and running for another year

Margaret Court made her way back to the event for the first time in eight years and shared some of her fondest memories from her remarkable career.

“It’s wonderful to see so many young ones here and to see the courts looking so beautiful,” Court said.

“I would have loved them to be like this when I was young and it always brings back fond memories when I come back here.

“With Wimbledon still on grass, I think it’s important as not too many nations have grass anymore.

“You’ve got to learn to serve-volley and I think some of the players are now finding, particularly on the indoor courts, that they’re volleying a lot more.

“I think it will come back in more because they can do it.”

A record 415 players have made their way to the Border for this year’s event from nine different countries.

“I think it’s wonderful, I met the South African team yesterday (Wednesday) and they’re here from Papua New Guinea and everywhere,” Court said.

“It’s wonderful that you can share with them that you were a country girl and how you did it.

“You had to do it very hard and very tough back then, it wasn’t open tennis.

“Somebody at the age of 13 said, ‘you could be the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon.”

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Her biggest piece of advice was to have goals.

“There wasn’t the money, the finances when I was playing, I had people behind me and I was very blessed in that way,” Court said.

“I think the other thing is to have a goal, and go for it.

“I don’t think that’s just in sport, it’s in everything and life for a young person with a future ahead of them needs something out in front to work towards.

“It builds discipline and commitment into you.”

Tournament director Phil Shanahan thanked everyone involved for their efforts in the lead up.

“Events like this don’t happen without the incredible amount of work behind the scenes,” Shanahan said.

State representatives Rory Carlyle and Ella Brown were also recognised.

Carlyle was selected in the Victorian team which competed in Adelaide in October and won the silver medal at the national championships, while Brown won the 13 girls singles at the NSW Country Championships and gained selection in the NSW Foundation Cup team to compete at Kooyong this month.

Action kicked off with the team’s event on Thursday, with championship matches commencing on Friday through to the finals on Tuesday.

Play will start as normal from 8.30am on Friday, but a break will be taken if temperatures exceed 40 degrees.