In a nail-biting finish at the Women’s finals, the match intensity remained high until the very last singles. After the first doubles, the score was tied at one rubber apiece. The tension carried through the next two singles, leaving the final two singles matches to determine the outcome. Kooyong Lawn’s women ultimately clinched the title with a win to Kooyong Lawn’s Koharu Nishikawa to give the Club a 3-8-64 victory over MCC Glen Iris Valley, who finished with 2-3-43. Reflecting on their performance, Zoe Llewellyn from Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club praised her team for “doing a really good job to get over the line” with the challenging windy conditions.

The Men’s finals proved to be just as electrifying, with every match needed to determine the winner. It was a battle of endurance and skill as the players pushed through all the rubbers. In the end it was Kooyong Lawn who defeated Geelong Lawn 4-5-63 to 1-6-61 with Kooyong Lawn’s Captain David Bidmeade winning his Singles battle over Geelong Lawn’s Taj Cayzer 12-10 in the tiebreaker that led Kooyong Lawn to another thrilling victory. Speaking about the victory, Bidmeade,  said he “couldn’t be prouder of the team” and described the win as “an amazing feeling”.

The players faced difficult conditions throughout the day with gusts of wind exceeding 60km/h. The en-tout-cas courts added an extra layer of difficulty as the courts swirled into players’ eyes and faces, making precise shots even more challenging. Despite these trying conditions, Kooyong Lawn emerged victorious, capturing back-to-back titles in the Women’s competition and securing the Men’s championship, giving the club an impressive double victory.

Kooyong Lawn’s outstanding performances in both Men’s and Women’s State Grade Grand finals and the Grade 1 Women’s Final solidified their dominance, showcasing not only skill and tenacity but also the ability to thrive under pressure.