14 April 2014 | Tennis Victoria

From the very first serve at Glen Iris Valley Recreation Club on Sunday 13 April it was evident that the battle for the Tennis Victoria Premier League title in both the men’s and women’s finals was going to be tough. Grace Park Lawn Tennis Club were taking on the reigning champions Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in the men’s and the undefeated MCC Tennis team were trying to stop 2013 runners up Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club from going one better.

At the conclusion of the doubles, matches were tied at one rubber apiece, setting the scene for some exhilarating singles action. Due to the unavailability of Kooyong Lawn TC’s number one female player Arina Rodionova, young gun Destanee Aiava stepped up to take on MCC’s Zoe Hives. On lookers touted it as one of the best matches they’ve seen in a women’s final in many years, with Aiava taking the win to put Kooyong just ahead. However MCC’s Jamiee Fourlis pushed on to defeat 2014 TVPL Ace Award winner Molly Polak (KLTC) to again level the match.

On the court next door, the men’s number ones were going toe to toe in an intriguing hit out. Kooyong’s previously undefeated Daniel Byrnes jumped to a one set to love lead over Grace Park’s 2014 TVPL Ace Award winner James Lemke. Lemke fought back in the second set to level the rubber and the third set was up for the taking when unfortunately Byrnes had to retire with an ankle injury. A win to David Bidmeade (KLTC) over Adam Hubble (GPLTC) kept the match tied at 2 rubbers apiece with two rubbers to play.

With the deciding rubbers underway dark clouds closed in and attempted to threaten the days play so Jarryd Maher (GPLTC) stepped up the pace, defeating KLTC’s Ricky Robertson in straight sets. The final rubber continued between Dane Propoggia (GPLTC) and Kooyong stalwart Andrew Coelho. Propoggia claimed the first set, and scores were level in the second when a count of games across the match was completed to determine that Kooyong Lawn TC were mathematically unable to snatch the win and Grace Park Lawn Tennis Club were crowned champions.

The women’s rubbers continued under lights. MCC’s Eliza Long and Sevvy Gallios both took the first set against their respective opponents Annabelle Andrinopoulos and Alana Parnaby. With the title on the line, the Kooyong girls were not done yet, with both of them fighting back to win their rubbers in three sets and ensure Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club’s name on the trophy.

It was an impressive performance by all players who took the court in the finals and every rubber in both the men’s and the women’s could have gone either way.

Grace Park LTC captain, James Lemke, congratulated his team on a great competition “well done to Kooyong, it was a great effort by our team to win and we were really appreciative of the scheduling working in with the pro-tour circuit.”

Kate Antosik, captain of the Kooyong Lawn TC women’s team commended MCC’s improvement and undefeated performance through the super rounds, “that was one of the toughest finals we have ever had to fight out.”

Congratulations and thank you to all players, clubs and spectators who embraced yet another fantastic Premier League competition.

Full results are available here.