26 November 2024 | Tennis West

Two weeks of high-quality Junior ITF tennis wrapped up on Sunday at the State Tennis Centre with plenty of WA success. 

A total of 128 girls and boys competed across the two singles events with 110 players from Australia and the remaining 18 from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, India and Switzerland. 

West Australian junior talent was on display with 10 WA boys and 10 girls competing in the main singles draw of the J30 #1. In the J30 #2, 8 WA boys and 11 girls entered the main singles draw. 

A total of 92 WA players competed in both the singles and doubles draws of both Perth Junior Championships. 

In the J30 Perth Junior Championship #1, WA’s Alice Stevens triumphed over fellow West Aussie Sara Nikolic 7-6, 7-6 in the girl’s singles final. Stevens only dropped two games until reaching the semi-final against fellow West Aussie Tara Aleksic where she was challenged in three sets before edging past Nikolic in the final with two key set tie-breaks to take the title. 

Alice Stevens also found success in the doubles, winning the doubles title with partner and Hensman Park State League teammate Karin Hiramatsu, defeating other locals Amy Findlay and Jana Ruzic 7-6, 6-2. 

In the boy’s final, Australian Aryan Karnani upset fellow Aussie and number one seed Luca Connaughton, winning 6-3, 6-4. The pair then teamed up in the doubles final and defeated WA pair Luka Vujacic and George Diable in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. 

In the J30 Perth Junior Championship #2, local girl Tara Aleksic bounced back from her semi-final loss in the first championships to defeat Musemma Cilek in the singles final 6-2, 6-2. Tara Aleksic also backed it up to partner with Amy Findlay and win the doubles title 7-5, 7-6 against Pauline Ma and Alice Stevens. 

Luca Connaughton also was able to bounce back and go one better, winning the boy’s final against WA local Sehun Park 7-6, 6-1. Luca once again teamed up with Aryan Karnani in the doubles and the pair recorded back-to-back doubles titles defeating George Diable and Lachlan King 6-1, 6-0. 

Thank you to all the players, parents and coaches that embraced both events. 

 

Results: 

ITF J30 Perth Junior Championships #1 

Boy’s Singles 

Winner – Aryan Karnani 

Finalist – Luca Connaughton 

 

Girl’s Singles 

Winner – Alice Stevens 

Finalist – Sara Nikolic 

 

Boy’s Doubles 

Winners – Luca Connaughton & Aryan Karnani 

Finalists – George Diable & Luka Vujacic 

 

Girl’s Doubles 

Winners – Karin Hiramatsu & Alice Stevens 

Finalists – Amy Findlay & Jana Ruzic 

 

ITF J30 Perth Junior Championships #2  

Boy’s Singles  

Winner – Luca Connaughton 

Finalist – Sehun Park 

  

Girl’s Singles 

Winner – Tara Aleksic 

Finalist – Musemma Cilek 

  

Boy’s Doubles 

Winners – Luca Connaughton & Aryan Karnani 

Finalists – George Diable & Lachlan King  

  

Girl’s Doubles 

Winner – Tara Aleksic & Amy Findlay 

Finalists – Pauline Ma & Alice Stevens