{"id":14851,"date":"2016-01-08T17:11:16","date_gmt":"2016-01-08T06:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/?p=14851"},"modified":"2016-01-08T17:44:26","modified_gmt":"2016-01-08T06:44:26","slug":"top-seeds-progress-at-inter-regional-country-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/vic\/news\/2016\/01\/08\/top-seeds-progress-at-inter-regional-country-championships","title":{"rendered":"Top seeds progress at Inter-regional Country Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 60th<\/sup> annual Inter-regional Country Championships got underway in perfect conditions on Friday, with 192 matches played across\u00a0the day.<\/p>\n

After a busy day of qualifying, defending men\u2019s open singles, doubles and mixed doubles champion Matthew Hicks (Barwon) is through to the quarter-finals against Echuca\u2019s Isaac Watson (Northern Mallee), while top seed Eliza Long (Loddon Campaspe) will play Nicole Mullen (Barwon).<\/p>\n

Kyabram’s\u00a0David Starling, who is the senior men\u2019s singles, doubles and mixed doubles defending champion, returns to the event in 2016 with his daughter Brooke Starling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my seventh year at the event, we have played all over Victoria, it\u2019s great fun,\u201d said Starling who represents the Goulburn region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Inter-regionals are a unique event from the point that, in local competition you\u2019re always playing against the best players, you\u2019re never with them, and this is a chance for us to come away as a team, play together and cheer each other on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mornington\u2019s Courntey Skene also credited the team atmosphere as to why she loves the\u00a0event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good atmosphere here and to participate in a team is great,\u201d said the 18-year-old who in 2015 finished runner up the 18\/u singles final. \u201cWe all watch each other and no matter if you win or lose, it\u2019s still fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my fifth year playing at the Inter-regionals, it is pretty tough competition each year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe courts are awesome in Swan Hill. I love coming up here, and it\u2019s really good to get some match experience on the grass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Day two of the event will see players compete in main draw and consolation singles and mixed doubles matches.<\/p>\n