21 November 2016 | Tennis Victoria

The 2016-17 Tennis Victoria Premier League season began in great fashion at the weekend, with Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club the early leaders in both the men’s and women’s competitions.

The first two rounds of the state’s highest inter-club league were held across a blockbuster weekend which took the men to Dingley Tennis Club on Friday and Bendigo Tennis Centre on Sunday as the Country All Stars hosted round two.

Last season’s runners up Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club appear to be the early favourites, sitting atop the ladder after crushing wins over Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club and the Country All Stars thanks to youngsters Andrew Whittington, Marc Polmans and Omar Jasika who are in ominous early season form.

MCC Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club appeared on paper to be a major wildcard team this season with the likes of Blake Mott, Aaron Addison and Peter Luczak. True to their pre-league status they caused a major upset, defeating defending champions Grace Park Hawthorn Club in round one. On Sunday in Ballarat, MCC Glen Iris went on to show it was not just a one-off victory, defeating Dingley Tennis Club.

Despite losing the first round, Grace Park Hawthorn Club’s quest for a rare four-peat got back on track on Sunday after a tough 4 rubbers to 2 victory over Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club.

In the women’s league, Liston Tennis Club announced themselves as serious challengers, reversing and erasing the demons of their previous season’s Grand Final loss, defeating MCC Glen Iris Valley and then importantly claiming the scalp of serious challengers Royal South Yarra in front of their parochial home crowd in round two.

Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club started their season well and remain undefeated after coming out on top over Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club and Dendy Park Tennis Club in round two, with rising youngster Destanee Aiava in ominous form and also undefeated.

This weekend will see another double-header round of the Tennis Victoria Premier League action as clubs look to position themselves for a finals berth.

On Friday 25 November, round three will be played with the men’s league at Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club and the women’s league at Dingley Tennis Club, with matches commencing at 6:30pm at both venues.

Then a blockbuster round four awaits on Saturday 26 November as the state’s best male and female players converge as one to compete at Dendy Park Tennis Club with all men’s and women’s matches commencing at 12:30pm, including a men’s grand final replay between Grace Park Hawthorn and Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. More information here.

Ladders after round 2

Men

1. Kooyong Lawn 15 points
2. MCC Glen Iris Valley 13 points
3. Dingley 8 points
4. Grace Park Hawthorn 7 points
5. Country All Stars 3 points
6. Royal South Yarra LTC 2 points

Women

1. Kooyong Lawn 13 points
2. Liston 12 points
3. MCC Glen Iris Valley 9 points
4. Dingley 7 points
5. Royal South Yarra LTC 5 points
6. Dendy Park 2 points