Benalla’s Meg Cooke has taken out the inaugural Gardens Tennis Title in the Benalla Women’s Singles Open.
Cooke showed steely nerves and unmatched consistency to grind down her opponent, Mary Thornton, at the Gardens Tennis Club on Sunday in front of a committed group of on-lookers.
The straights sets victory finished of a flawless first Women’s Singles run for Meg and she will enter the 2025 season as the one all the senior ladies will need to beat.
A challenge that will likely only get more difficult for her opponents next season as the young Cooke matures and continues to grow on her own power and game.
Cooke, 17, played almost flawless tennis in Sunday’s final, combining brilliant variety, power hitting, near-perfect control, determination, maturity and calmness to impress everyone, including her opponent on the day.
Thornton did all she could to break the youngster’s rhythm throughout the match. Long rallies and hard-hitting exchanges went Cooke’s way on most occasions.
The victory was made more impressive in that Cooke had to really fight, with the straight sets score not doing justice to the closeness of the match.
Cooke dominated on the games and set scores, but in fact, every single game in the 90-minute match which was played in great spirit went to deuce at least once. Thornton can certainly hold her head high.
Cooke proved too strong on all the big points throughout the final, a quality that Gardens president and event organiser Michael Levy believes will hold her in good stead for her future.
Levy indicated a move to grow the new women’s tennis event for 2025.
“Benalla Gardens Tennis Club would like to host a bigger and better women’s championship next year and beyond, with the new annual tennis event to run through March to early April in 2025,” he said.
The championship will be open to any intermediate or better local females who wish to compete in singles tennis at the highest local level.
Levy hopes the event will become the title all the female adults want to take out each year or the junior girls plan to win in the future. Emulating what Cooke has achieved, having just become the first singles winner despite still being eligible at the junior age level.
Cooke’s achievements for 2024 may not stop at being crowned women’s number one either. She is set to face off against a very tough competitor in the under-19s singles final this Sunday around 1pm at Gardens Tennis Club as well.
Cooke earned the right to take on the undefeated Patrick Neilson in the final by over-coming her close friend Joe Boyd last Saturday. Boyd, who will develop into an extremely good player in the future, didn't have his best day, and Cooke pounced to take out bragging rights for now and advance to face Neilson in a tough task.
Levy wasn’t sure who will take the Benalla under-19 title.
“Neilson completely deserves to go in favourite. His technique is unique. He is very strong and a great young man. But Meg knows how to play the big points and just keeps getting better every match. I will be there to watch this one. And I have no idea which one will win. Anyone who loves junior tennis should and come and support them this Sunday,” he said.
The Benalla under-19s singles final starts around 1pm this Sunday at Benalla Gardens Tennis Club on Lake Benalla. Tea and coffee will be free. Everyone is welcome to come and watch.