13 December 2023 | Tennis West

The first half of the Men’s and Women’s State League season has wrapped up. See all the results below:

WOMEN’S 

Dalkeith 3 (6 sets) defeated by Royal Kings Park 3 (8 sets) 

Dalkeith and Royal Kings Park engaged in a tennis spectacle with the result coming down to the wire. The teams battled relentlessly, with every set contested fiercely.

In singles action, Ali Connell, Hayley Burton, and Meg Connell faced formidable opponents in Rhea Makesar, Saanvi Tak, and Jana Ruzic, respectively. While Dalkeith showed resilience, Royal Kings Park’s Rhea Makesar and Saanvi Tak secured crucial victories, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

With matches needing to go Dalkeith’s way in the doubles matchups, the pairings of Hayley Burton/Sally Partington and Meg Connell and Ali Connell bounced back in a tense doubles matches securing wins and leveling the scores, however Royal Kings Park would hold on by two sets. The win was an important one for Royal Kings Park, holding on to 2nd spot while Dalkeith remain in last place.

 

Peppermint Grove 1 defeated by Hensman Park 5 

Hensman Park asserted their dominance with a resounding 5-1 victory over Peppermint Grove. The singles matches saw Lily Fairclough play her first game of the season for Hensman Park, and was joined by regulars Anja Dokic, Ella Nurkic, and Shona Lee delivering impressive singles performances, securing victories for their team.

Despite a valiant effort from Peppermint Grove’s Tara Aleksic and Lexie Weir in the singles, taking a set each respectively, Hensman Park’s consistency proved decisive. The doubles matches further reinforced Hensman Park’s dominance, with Lily Fairclough/Anja Dokic and Ella Nurkic/Alfee Stevens securing victories to seal the comprehensive 5-1 win. Hensman Park remain on top of the ladder with Peppermint Grove sitting in 3rd spot.

 

Alexander Park 5 defeated Applecross 1 

Alexander Park bounced back after last week’s loss and showcased their experience and strength with a commanding 5-1 victory over Applecross, highlighting the team’s depth and skill across singles and doubles play.

Peyton Duckett, Shanelle Iaconi, and Madeleine Watson delivered strong performances in the singles matches, securing crucial wins for Alexander Park. The doubles pairings of Katy O’Shea/Shanelle Iaconi and Madeleine Watson/Peyton Duckett continued the team’s winning streak. The scoreline didn’t reflect how tight the match up was with three matches going down to a third set tie-break with Alexander Park showing their experience winning all three. The win sees Alexander Park leapfrog Applecross on the ladder.

 

MEN’S 

UWA 2 defeated by Alexander Park 4 

In a showcase of singles prowess, Alexander Park emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over UWA. Scott Jones led the charge with a convincing victory over Hans Bustiman, setting the tone for the team. Ashwin Sharma and Daniel Downey continued the momentum, securing wins in their respective singles matches.

UWA’s Alfonso Calderon fought valiantly, delivering a singles win, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The doubles matches saw both teams trading blows, with Scott Jones/Ashwin Sharma securing a crucial win for Alexander Park. However, UWA’s Adityavikram Mann/Alfonso Calderon managed to salvage a point in a hard-fought doubles encounter. The win puts Alexander Park back into 2nd spot while UWA slide to 5th place.

 

Mt Lawley/Sorrento 4 defeated Blue Gum Park 2 

Mt Lawley/Sorrento faced tough competition from Blue Gum Park but emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. Jerome Iaconi, Casey Ambler, and Michael Faulkner delivered strong performances in the singles matches, securing crucial wins for their team.

The highlight of the round was Michael Faulkner’s epic comeback in a three-set thriller against Blue Gum Park’s Rory Marles, clinching the win with a 12-10 tiebreak. The doubles matches saw both teams putting up a fight, but Mt Lawley/Sorrento’s Michael Faulkner/Cian Ingles secured a decisive win, sealing the team’s 4-2 triumph. The win was an important one for Mt Lawley/Sorrento to remain in contention, however they still sit in last place but are one win off Blue Gum Park sit in 4th place.

 

Cottesloe 2 defeated by Peppermint Grove 4 

Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove engaged in a closely contested battle that ended with Peppermint Grove as winners. The singles matches saw Scott Webster and Will Hann delivering strong performances for Cottesloe.

Peppermint Grove’s Brandon Walkin and Jayden Court fought back, claiming singles victories for their team. The doubles matches proved decisive, with both teams showcasing their strength. Scott Webster/Will Hann secured a crucial win for Cottesloe, while Peppermint Grove’s Sam Ashenden/Jake Robinson fought back.

Cottesloe remains on top of the ladder going into the Christmas break with Peppermint Grove up to 2nd position.

Teams take a well-deserved break before State League resumes on Friday 2nd February 2024.