The prestigious tennis tournament will be staged at West Lakes Tennis Club in Adelaide from January 8 to 13, with Martin saying she was “tremendously excited” to earn selection.

“It feels to me like all my hard work and early morning starts have paid off and that tennis is starting to take me to big places,” Martin said.

“I cannot wait until I first step onto the courts in Adelaide.”

The competition gives children aged 13 and under from rural and regional Australia the opportunity to compete nationally.

The best-and-fairest male and female players will receive a $1000 cheque, presented by the Australian Made Campaign and the Fed Cup Foundation, to help with their tennis development.

Martin’s selection was largely as a result of her Australian ranking of 812 in the country; not junior ranking but open ladies ranking.

For her age, Martin is ranked 22 in NSW and 67 in Australia.

After starting the Tennis Hot Shots program in 2009, Martin played her first Junior Development Series (JDS) tournament in Narrabri in 2011 before playing her first Australian Ranking Tournament in Werris Creek the following year.

Martin earned North West selection in her age group for a few years, and this year she was selected to represent country tennis at the Sydney Apia International. She has also qualified for the JDS State finals in Sydney each year since 2013, and this year was a finalist in doubles for her age group in the West Tamworth Junior Tour.

Last year, Martin was involved in doubles wins in her age group as she competed at Cessnock and Grafton. She also won singles and doubles in her age group at Gloucester Tournament, and won the Special Ladies Doubles with another Gunnedah player: Emily Osmond.

Shaylee Martin started off with Louis Tennis Academy, and moved to Dale Martin coaching two years ago.

“My biggest influences are Dale Martin, Trish O’Gorman who I do training squad with, and also Emily Osmond who I trained with before she went to uni, and now I train with Gabby O’Gorman who I have been hitting with on a weekly basis,” she said.

Martin said they all gave good advice to help her become more consistent and to improve her game.

“My family has definitely been a big support: mum driving me around for tournaments,” she said.

“Dad doesn’t come very often due to work, but whenever he comes he supports me 100 per cent and tells me to give it my all.

“I am very proud to also play in Gunnedah and I have won my age group for a few years and also Division 2.

“I now play in Division 1 in Tuesday night comp and I am very happy to play with other great tennis players who have been playing tennis for a long time.”