A major Launceston sporting event is promising to deliver a greater sequel than its triumphant original as national and international stars confirmed their appearance.
The Launceston International returned to the city's Racecourse Crescent precinct after a four-year hiatus partly due to a lack of adequate facilities.
Played in Burnie on an interim basis, the tournament was saved from being canned when the Launceston Tennis Centre's $3.5-million upgrade was completed, allowing the event to return to the city that its named after.
And it came back with a Sam Groth serve-like bang.
Headlined by familiar Australian stars like Jason Kubler and Liz Cabrera, the tournament soon became a week where tennis fans got to witness the breakout arrival of Cruz Hewitt - the son of Aussie tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt.
Starting in qualifying, then 16-year-old Cruz just about repeated the effort of Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open Grand Slam at 18, having been made to qualify for the main draw.
Cruz ultimately fell to Australian Open doubles champion Jason Kubler in the final of the Launceston International, but clearly enjoyed his time in Northern Tasmania.
The teenager will again be a big name for the 2026 tournament after receiving a direct acceptance into the main draw.
The now 668-ranked (a career high) 17-year-old will again be challenging an Australian Open finalist for the title, with Marc Polmans making the trip across the Bass Strait fresh off a deep doubles run with Kubler at Melbourne Park in January.
Matthew Dellavedova - no, not that one - and Omar Jasika are also among the Australian contingent to receive direct entry.
On the women's side, Destanee Aiava joins last year's champion Cabrera as the crowd attractions, while Lithuanian Justina Mikulskyte (253) is the highest-ranked player.
Tennis Tasmania general manager Darren Sturgess said he remains very proud of how the Launceston International returned last year, with the crowd sizes garnering widespread praise from the Australian tennis community.
"It says a lot about Tasmania as a whole ... when they come to Tassie they know they get well looked after, it's very hospitable, doesn't matter which part of the state you're in," Sturgess said.
For this year's event, Sturgess said there was some fine-tuning required based on what they learned.
"It is really about engaging as much as we can with the local community, whether that's through fan participation or opportunities to partner locally as well," he said.
"We know that these events are really, really high quality in terms of the playing level that we get and we just want to make sure that when fans come along and buy their ticket that they're going to have a great experience too.
Sturgess said adult tickets were being held at $10 for weekdays and $20 for finals, while kids will attend for free throughout.
"We want to make sure it's reasonably priced and it's a great product," he said.
As for who might win, Sturgess suggested weather would prove a critical factor.
"It's just an unforced error here or there that makes the difference ... we know in Tassie we tend to get a little bit of wind, so those that can deal with the conditions will do well," he said.
"I know the players love playing in front of a crowd as well and that's something Tasmania does well.
"We were able to actually do a case study to the national team and actually present on the Launnie International ... it's setting the standard for this level right across the country, if not more broadly as well.
"There is Marc Polmans who made the final of the Australian Open doubles and he's going to be a very tough one to beat, Omar Jasika has won 18 titles at this level, won twice in Burnie, so he's comfortable with the conditions there.
"On the women's front, you've got a talent in Destanee Aiava as well, really strong Australian player, and some internationals are going to be taking it out to [her and Cabrera]."
The Launceston International begins March 1.