13 November 2023 | Tennis Victoria

Week 1 of Tennis Victoria Premier League saw MCC Glen Iris Valley Demons take charge in both the Men’s and Women’s competitions. 

Both the Men’s and Women’s MCC GIV teams remained unbeaten after three rounds, flexing their muscle with several convincing victories.

Kooyong Classics and Hume Viclanders have emerged as the Demons main challengers in the Women’s, while 2023  State Grade  Men’s champs Fawkner Stars and finalists Grace Park Hawthorn Club Aces are chasing the Demons lead in the Men’s.

There were many tight contests during the opening week, featuring multiple match tiebreak thrillers, but MCC showed why they’re the team to beat, with stars like Jaimee Fourlis and Jake Delaney getting big wins to lead the Demons Premier League charge.

WEEK 1 RESULTS 

Round 1 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club

Women:

The NSW Open reigning Singles and Doubles Champion, Destanee Aiava helped bolster the Diggers Rest Pasifika team but it wasn’t enough against the strength of a MCC Glen Iris Valley team of Jaimee Fourlis, Zoe Hives, Seone Mendez and Alana Parnaby. The Demons won won both singles matches and the doubles to win 3-0.

A fantastic battle between Erica Layton (RSY Yarras) and Miranda Poile (Grace Park Hawthorn Aces) went Layton’s way, and helped steer Royal South Yarra to a 2-1 win against Grace Park Hawthorn.

However, the match of the round was Kooyong vs Hume, and spectators were treated to three outstanding rubbers all going to match tiebreaks. Kaylah McPhee won the deciding singles against Roisin Gilheany to claim victory for Hume.

Men:

The opening round was always set to be a battle of the titans with reigning Tennis Victoria Premier League Champions MCC Glen Iris Valley Demons taking on reigning Tennis Victoria State Grade Champions Fawkner. The Demons put the competition on notice with a powerful 3-0 win.

Jack Bruce-Smith and Pat Fitzgerald guided RSY Yarras to a 2-1 win against Hume Highflyers with a 12-10 match tiebreak win.

Kooyong Classics and Grace Park Hawthorn Aces rallied late into the night, with Adam Hubble and James Watt winning the deciding doubles rubber 14-12 in the match tiebreak at 10.45pm to claim victory for Grace Park. The match had even more passion in it as the winning team was playing for the Paul Arber Cup, a former tennis great of both clubs.

Round 2 at Grace Park Hawthorn Club (Women) and Royal Park Tennis Club (Men)

Women:

Kooyong and MCC Glen Iris Valley recorded dominant displays, dropping just nine and six games respectively in their victories. Hume and Diggers Rest played out a nailbiter, with Hume claiming the win 2-1 thanks to victories from Tenika McGiffin at No.2 Singles and Bianca Compuesto and Jemma Carbis in the Doubles.

Men:

Fawkner claimed their first victory of the campaign over Hume, with a 3-0 final score not reflective of the competitiveness of the overall match. Thomas Fancutt (Fawkner) won a hard fought contest with Luke Sorenson (Hume) in the super tie break 4-6, 6-3 (10-6).

RSY Yarras won 2-1 against Kooyong, with a comprehensive doubles win from Aaron Leeder-Chard and Jack Bruce-Smith setting them up for success.

The match of the day was MCC Glen Iris Valley and Grace Park Hawthorn Club, with Jake Delaney winning the decisive match tiebreak at number 1 Singles against Chase Ferguson to claim the win for MCC GIV Demons.

Round 3 at MCC Glen Iris Valley Tennis Club

Women:

Grace Park Hawthorn claimed their first win, with a narrow 2-1 victory against Diggers Rest helped by a 10-5 match tiebreak win by Polly Li at No.1 singles.

Kooyong moved to 2nd place with a strong 3-0 triumph against Royal South Yarra to take the battle for Stonnington bragging rights.

The MCC GIV Demons showed why they are the team to beat with an impressive 3-0 win against the previously unbeaten Hume. Jaimee Fourlis defeated Kaylah McPhee 6-4 6-2 to seal victory and it was the impressive doubles duo of Zoe Hives and 14 year old Scarlett Dattoli for the Demons battling it out to win 7-5, 7-5.

Men:

Grace Park Hawthorn Club continued their impressive campaign with a 3-0 eclipse of previously unbeaten Royal South Yarra. The doubles combination of Frank Moser and Adam Hubble refused to give up in the match tiebreaker fighting back from 3-7 down to take the win with a scintillating match point.

MCC recorded their third straight win with another 3-0 success against Hume a perfect celebration for team Captain Aaron Addisons birthday.

Despite losing the doubles, Fawkner registered a come from behind 2-1 win against Kooyong to lift them to 3rd on the ladder. A particularly impressive performance came from Tom Fancutt, who won 6-1 6-3 against Jacob Grills at No.1 singles.

Stay updated on Tennis Victoria Premier League action, including highlights, player interviews, and Week 2 match fixtures on our social media channels.