17 March 2014 | Tennis Victoria

After completion of a blockbuster double header weekend of Tennis Victoria Premier League (TVPL) action, several clubs have announced themselves as serious contenders, as a string of upsets continued in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

The women’s competition after Round 3 appears to be a 4 team battle with MCC, Grace Park, Kooyong and Delahey Recreation all having legitimate chances. With just 2 rounds remaining to be played this weekend the youth driven MCC led by Zoe Hives and Jaimee Fourlis remain undefeated after impressive weekend victories over Kooyong and Dendy Park. Also remaining undefeated is the star studded Grace Park Lawn team featuring gun duo Alison Bai and Karolina Wlodarczak. The team were in outstanding form with a powerful 6 rubbers to 0 win over Royal South Yarra in Round 2 and also defeating  Kooyong by 2 sets on Sunday .  A final round showdown looms for both these clubs pitted against each other  to potentially determine the top team, in what looms as the clash of the season.

Last year’s runners up Kooyong and champions Delahey Recreation also cannot be denied as both clubs will look to book semifinal births this weekend and build momentum with some strong performances. The Kooyong team ranked number 1 in preseason still hold a few aces up their sleeve if they are able to get their strongest team on the court. To highlight this they were only just defeated by the powerful Grace Park team by 2 sets despite fielding a weakened team, highlighting the quality depth the team has. Delahey Recreation were fresh from weekend victories over Dendy Park and Royal South Yarra will look to build from this with tough assignments ahead against Grace Park and Kooyong this weekend, which will determine their fate in playing finals and having the opportunity to defend their 2013 Champions title.

Rain impacted on the men’s Round 2 action played at Doveton Tennis Club with the Dingley the only team securing the all important 2 win points with victory over the Country All Stars, as the other MCC v Kooyong and Waverley  v Grace Park clashes washed out later in the day at a point where no team had achieved a winning match position. This has thrown the competition wide open as the number 1 preseason ranked team Kooyong languish in 5^th place win less, battling injuries and top level player availability and now faces the real possibility of missing semifinal action, unless it can overcome the improving Country All Stars team and early season bolters Dingley this weekend.

The Round 3 TVPL action saw the star studded Grace Park stamp themselves as legitimate favourites heading into the final 2 rounds, with a resounding 6 rubbers to 0 win over Kooyong Lawn. The team features great quality in all rubbers spearheaded by captain James Lemke fresh from victory in Round 3 over Andrew Whittington from Kooyong, Adam Hubble, Jarryd Maher and Jeremy Beale. The Waverley Tennis team have been flying under the radar in the opening rounds, but are now well and truly in bright lights as contenders following a 6 rubbers to 0 demolition of the previously undefeated Dingley, with Daniel Ferretti continuing his rich vein of form and remains undefeated in singles rubbers.  The Country All Stars team continued their improvement aided by the addition of Matthew Hicks and Adam Lasky, going down in the closest of matches by 5 games to the experienced MCC team who kept their finals aspirations alive.

The match between Kooyong and Grace Park was honoured with the inaugural Paul Arber Cup in memory of Paul and his contribution to both clubs and competition tennis in Victoria. His parents Sam and Richelle Arber presented the Cup to Grace Park who were winners on the day.

TVPL action will continue this weekend again with another double header weekend as teams battle to secure finals spots The women’s competition will venture to Green Gully Tennis Club (Green Gully Reserve, Keilor Downs) this Saturday 22^nd March for Round 4 and then to Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club (310 Williams Road North, Toorak) for the final round on Sunday 23^rd March.

The men’s Round 4 competition will be played at MCC Tennis Section (Junction Oval, Lakeside Drive, St Kilda) this Saturday 22^nd March and then the competition will be showcased in Country Victoria at Bendigo (21A Nolan Street, Bendigo) on Sunday 23^rd March.

Saturday 22^nd March matches will commence at 1:00pm and Sunday 23^rd March matches will commence at 12:00pm.

Following completion of Round 5 this weekend, the top 4 teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions will advance to the Semi Finals to be played next Wednesday 26^th March from 7:00pm, with team 1 versus 4 and team 2 versus 3, with the higher ranked team to host the final.

For all the latest results, fixtures please click here.