Yukon tennis players will be trying out their shiny newly-surfaced tennis court during four days of the annual Yukon Territorial Championships that start Thursday at the Mount McIntyre courts.

The bumps, cracks and wear of the old courts are now history thanks to the combined support of Lotteries Yukon, the Yukon government's Community

Development Fund, the City of Whitehorse's Recreation Grant program and the Tennis Yukon membership.

The $45,000 project has put new life into a facility that has served tennis players from near and far over the years.

Tennis Yukon president Stacy Lewis said the new surface is an exciting development, bringing the courts up to a high standard.

"The cracks and heaves around each net post, which were pushing the nets higher and higher, have been fixed. Sealing off all of the cracks with the new surface means we stopped the deterioration of the courts that we've seen over the last few years. Now its our job to try to make sure the courts stay in good shape for another 10 years, and that we are ready when the time comes to re-surface again.

"Players may notice the courts play a little slower than the old ones, but the big difference will be how well they see the ball against the deeper colours of the fresh paint.”

Tennis Yukon has scheduled a ribbon cutting ceremony for 6 p.m. Thursday to celebrate what is in effect a brand new tennis court. (Remember non-marking soles only on the courts, even for dignitaries!)

The tournament continues through to Sunday when the finals for all the events will be played. The hotly contested men's singles draw will feature both the 2010 champion Jan Polivka and runner-up Kyle Marchuk. They will face new competition this year as junior players Kieran Halliday and Khang Pham, fresh from competing for Team Yukon at the Western Canada Summer Games in Kamloops, B.C., will play up in the men's draw.

Tennis Yukon is also hosting an Open House on Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for people to stop by and check out the new courts, watch some great tennis and see about the Tennis Yukon programs that are available year round.