A group of eight children, who are part of the Hot Shots program, were given the opportunity to take part in the Kids On Court program at the open.

The program gave the players a chance to hit on one of the Melbourne Park courts. 

Haven Tennis Club’s junior co-ordinator Sue Exell said it was an absolutely thrilling experience for the young players. 

“We didn’t know which court we were going to be put on until Tennis Australia told us on the day,” she said. 

“We asked the representative from Tennis Australia and he said Rod Laver Arena.

“I thought, ‘you’re joking’, but he wasn’t.” 

The Haven Hot Shots were placed with 10 students from a primary school in Darwin. 

Exell said the children had a chance to play on Rod Laver Arena for 10 minutes. 

“It was amazing,” she said. 

“We also had three kids nominated for coin tosses.” 

Aiden Reinheimer tossed the coin for the opening women’s singles clash between world number four Simona Halep and Shelby Rogers. 

Matthew Quick tossed the coin for the second women’s singles game between Kateryna Kozlova and world number 13 Venus Williams. 

Lucy Hudson was the luckiest of all, getting to toss the coin for the opening men’s singles game between world number one Andy Murray and Illya Marchenko. 

Exell said the Hot Shots did not show any signs of nerves. 

“I remember Lucy saying, ‘I’m not nervous’ and then going out and being very comfortable,” she said. 

Exell said there would be a bus and several families travelling to the Australian Open from the Haven Tennis Club to enjoy the tournament. 

She said there were activities and entertainment for children at the Australian Open. 

“They will all come down on Thursday,” she said. 

While in Melbourne, Exell attended a three-day tennis conference to bring back new and improved ideas to aid Haven Tennis Club and tennis in the Wimmera. 

Judy Murray, Andy Murray’s mother, was one of the speakers at the conference. 

“She talked a lot about the differences in coaching girls and boys and how they learn differently,” she said. 

“She also spoke of the importance of having female coaches in the system, she said how it was a great way to progress with the sport.

“It was a fascinating week.”

Exell and Rebecca Bird also attended a Hot Shots workshop, about ways to manage different numbers of children and new ways to coach them. 

She said praise should go to Bird, who played a large part in getting the children’s names and writing them down for nomination.

“She has done an amazing job,” Exell said.