The 2018/19 Tennis West State League Competition will kick off this Saturday, and is set to be a star studded affair as some of the State’s best players battle it out in the first of 14 rounds, for a place in the finals and a share of the $20,000 prize pool.
In the Men’s State League, Cottesloe Tennis Club are looking to go one better than last season after falling to Mosman Park Tennis Club in the Final. They have assembled a strong contingent of players including Captain Mitchell Pleydell, Tennis West National Academy Head Coach, Andrew Roberts, 17 year old rising star William Hann, and 2017/18 State League MVP, Joel Pleydell, who last season won an astonishing 21 singles and doubles matches.
In a boon for Dalkeith Tennis Club, 2017/18 WA Junior Tennis Star, Tristan Schoolkate has joined the ranks, and is set to impress after an remarkable 12 months that has seen him rise to the top 100 of the International Tennis Federation World Junior Rankings. Schoolkate has taken the ITF junior circuit by storm, winning 8 ITF’s in the last year in both singles and doubles. His results earnt him a place on the Australian Representative Tour to the B2 ITF in Fiji where he was a singles finalist against world class competition. Since April, Schoolkate’s record at the ITF’s is an impressive 45-5. Schoolkate will be joined by teammates Tom Fancutt, Josiah Tyson, Oliver Henderson, Dylan McCloskey, Christian Harding, Josh Nelson and Matt Roso.
For the first time in 25 years, Alexander Park Tennis Club will field a team in the Men’s State League, headlined by Jerome Iaconi, who is currently the number one 16-year old in WA, and number five nationally. Iaconi is the reigning Australian Schoolboys National Champion and has won three AMT’s this year. Iaconi will play alongside Captain, and veteran grass court player Brett Patten, brothers Alex and Daniel Downey, and Tasmanian, Ed Bourchier, who is ranked 40 in Australia and is currently playing on the Pro Tour.
Rounding out the Men’s State League are teams from Mt Lawley Tennis Club, Royal Kings Park Tennis Club, Peppermint Grove Tennis Club, Hensman Park Tennis Club, who have secured current Pro, Brydan Klein as their number 1 player, and Bayswater Tennis Club, who have been bolstered by the inclusion of Queenslander Gavin Van Peperzeel, who is currently on the circuit playing Futures events.
Former World Number 8, and current Fed Cup Captain, Alicia Molik will headline the Women’s competition for Cottesloe Tennis Club, together with 20 year old teammate, Maddison Inglis, who is currently ranked 21 in Australia. In January this year, Inglis made her debut at the Mastercard Hopman Cup as a reserve player for Japan in their tie against the USA. Inglis has performed well both locally and internationally on the Pro-Tour, as is set to continue her impressive form.
Reigning Champions Royal Kings Park Tennis Club will return again this year with an unchanged line-up of players, including 2017/18 Women’s State League MVP Bojana Bobusic who last season remained undefeated across both singles and doubles. Bobusic will be joined by Janelle Cuthbertson, Nina Catovic, Nicole Sewell, Brittany Sheed and Captain, Astrid Kanther.
City Beach Tennis Club, North Beach Tennis Club, Blue Gum Park Tennis Club and Hensman Park Tennis Club will join Royal Kings Park and Cottesloe in the bid to win the 2018/19 Women’s State League Shield.
Tennis West CEO, Michael Roberts is thrilled with the calibre of this year’s players.
“The Tennis West State League is regarded by players around Australia as the strongest and best run club based competition in the country. It brings together current and former professional players as well as the state’s best junior players”
“This competition is the pinnacle of our Leagues competition and not only provides a perfect platform for our rising stars, but also enables the wider community to watch some of the state’s best players battle it out at their local tennis club” Mr Roberts said.
The Tennis West State League is the pinnacle team competition in Western Australia for professional players who are joined by the State’s up-and-coming elite athletes. Fourteen Men’s and Women’s teams compete over fourteen home and away rounds at Clubs on Saturdays during the Summer for a prize pool of $20,000.
Tennis West is pleased to confirm the teams who have won a place in the State League for 2018/19:
MEN:
Alexander Park Tennis Club
Bayswater Tennis Club
Cottesloe Tennis Club
Dalkeith Tennis Club
Hensman Park Tennis Club
Mt Lawley Tennis Club
Peppermint Grove Tennis Club
Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
WOMEN:
Blue Gum Park Tennis Club
City Beach Tennis Club
Cottesloe Tennis Club
Hensman Park Tennis Club
North Beach Tennis Club
Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
The 2018/19 Tennis West State League season commences on Saturday 20 October.
Tennis West’s Tennis League is the largest single Association inter-club league competition in Australia. It is open to Tennis West affiliated club members of all ages and abilities. Around 8,000 players participate in Summer Tennis League, and 5,000 players in Winter Tennis League. Competitions are offered for Adults, Juniors and Seniors.
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