Two Indigenous students from Craigmore High School have designed trophies for the men's and women's champions at the 2026 City of Playford Tennis International.

Emily O'Connor and Melanie Taylor created two Kaurna shields with support from their Aboriginal Education teacher and Eastern Arrernte woman Neisha Rathman.

The annual tournament runs from 21 to 29 November at the Playford Tennis Centre, bringing together professional players from around the world. The shields will be presented to the champions at the tournament's finals on the final day of competition.

Players will compete for world ranking points to strengthen their chances of competing at major tournaments, including the Adelaide International and Australian Open.

For Year 10 student Ms O'Connor, the project offered the chance to create something a professional tennis player could take home and display overseas.

Her design pays tribute to Indigenous Australians, including Eddie Mabo, and reflects the work behind progress made by communities.

Ms O'Connor used symbols to represent that journey.

"I used pathways and the symbol for hills to show the distance and work we've done to get to where we are now," she said.

A central circle in her design represents a meeting place, reflecting the importance of gathering and working towards a shared community focus.

Year 8 student Ms Taylor also found it surreal to imagine her design belonging to a tennis champion.

Her shield draws on family camping trips to the river and pays tribute to loved ones who have passed away.

Three sun symbols in the sky represent those loved ones watching over her family.

Ms Taylor's design brings together her memories of time spent with family.

"My design shows the camping trips I would take with my family to the river," she said.

"It's about family, the memories and past loved ones."

Both designs reflect the role of family and community in supporting people to achieve their goals, including the networks behind professional athletes.

City of Playford Mayor, Glenn Docherty, said showcasing the creativity of young Indigenous people in Playford strengthens the connection between this international tournament and the local community.

"By involving local young people, we're making this tournament about more than world-class tennis," he said.

"We're celebrating the people who make Playford special, giving our young talent a platform to shine and strengthening the connection between this international event and the community that proudly hosts it.

"We are proud to celebrate and create opportunities for younger generations to share their stories and keep their culture strong."

Entry is free throughout the tournament, giving spectators the opportunity to watch professional players who could go on to compete at the Adelaide International.

More information about the tournament is available on the City of Playford website.