Inaugural Benalla Garden’s Tennis Club Women’s champion to be crowned on Sunday

The Benalla Gardens Tennis Club will host the Championships on its Lake Benalla hardcourt facilities this Sunday in front of anyone who didn’t quite get their tennis fill over the summer season.

Tournament Director Michael Levy said the competitors and the club hope to get a decent crowd for support

“The weather forecast looks perfect,” Levy said.

“The event unfortunately lost one of its favourites for the inaugural title when Kate Campbell had to pull out, after dominating her first match.

“Kate’s situation opened the tournament right up. Any one of the women left could be crowned the inaugural Women’s Singles Champion for 2024.

“Youngster Meg Cooke is probably the slight favourite with her best being good enough to even challenge the crisp hitting of Campbell.

“But all the ladies left are improving their singles games rapidly, having finally been given the opportunity to compete like this.

“It’s all a knock-out now. So you have to handle a different pressure from the pool rounds.

“Every ball could cost you a chance to take the 24 title.”

Illness and under-19 match scheduling delayed last weekend's Women’s Open semi-finals from being played on Sunday.

Both do-or-die, best of 3 set battles are now to be played mid this week before Sunday’s ultimate Final.

Semi-final one will be a contest between the highly consistent, American, Mary Thornton and local left-handed veteran, Prue Calvert.

Thornton, has shown signs that she is adapting nicely to the long rallies and higher bounce of the hardcourt surface, with her form really starting to rocket.

Calvert, has fought through COVID-19 and some tough matches, but will be no easy-beat, with the experienced campaigner knowing what it takes to win.

Semi-final will take place mid-week at the Lake Benalla Courts. Thornton or Calvert will progress to Sunday’s Open final and await their title challenger from Semi final two.

The second semi, will see Championship favourite and up-and-coming junior, Meg Cooke against the temperamental, but rapidly improving Italian, Giulia Franceschi. Franceschi, who has shown signs she is not far away from becoming a real challenge for anyone who plays her.

She can hit the ball hard. Her lack of experience can mean a lack of control. But things have started to click within her game.

Meg Cooke, despite being young, actually has an experience advantage going into the match.

In semi-finals, experience can be a huge factor. Franceschi will need to be at her very best and stay cool.

But Levy indicated it could be an excellent match up for both players, who have the fitness to go all three-sets and should bring out the best in each other.

Cooke has had a busy match schedule. She was also competing, with the under-19 boys for the 2024 Benalla Under-19 Title which is being run concurrently.

She had to face the unique style of the undefeated, Patrick Neilson on Sunday.

Neilson has a few years of age experience on Meg. He used all that maturity and his extremely good hand-eye co-ordination to take Cooke down in a really high-quality contest played in a really good atmosphere.

Long rallies and deuces ended up going Neilson’s way due to great consistency and ‘Alex De Minaur’ like court coverage.

The 6-3, 6-4 triumph means Neilson progresses straight to the 2024 U/19 Final.

Junior entrant Joe Boyd had this week's bye in the three player event. The results of the first two rounds means the final pool match between Boyd and Cooke has effectively become a best of three sets semi-final between the two close, but highly competitive friends.

It will be a knock-out thriller, with the pair evenly matched. Either can, and should, feel they can win.

Whoever prevails heads to next weekend's Junior final where in-form Neilson awaits.

Club President and event organiser, Levy said he can’t wait for the Cooke vs Boyd match.

“I have recently started coaching the pair,” he said.

“I have seen their best level come out in training, with the pair showing rapid improvement.

“I can’t have a favourite. They are both such great young adults.

“They are eager to get outside and learn. They both play so well at their best. If they stay calm, handle the nerves and play well, this could be a seriously good match-up to watch.

“Certainly, a little extra spice because neither will want to give the other 2024 bragging rights.”

With Cooke already mentioned to be a possibility to feature in the Women’s Open Final on Sunday, the tournament has decided to schedule the Cooke vs Boyd match around Cooke Women’s Open results.

Anyone wanting match times or information for the U19’s can contact Gardens Tennis on 0433 520 809 for a final match date/time yet to be determined.

Men’s Open round robin matches also continue this weekend. Veteran champion, Ron Evans takes on Michael Levy and the U-19 finalist, Patrick Neilson will set out to try to ruffle more feathers now against the men, taking on Greg Murphy.

Last weekend's results saw Greg Murphy put on a master class in variation, to overcome the pure tennis technique of up and comer Joe Boyd.

Young Joe has the courage and willingness to compete with the older more experienced men.

And Boyd, who prefers the ball coming on hard and with modern topspin, found Murphy’s slice and brilliant placement unsettling.

A straight sets victory was a small upset for Murphy over Boyd’s potential.

In the other pool match. The experience and maturity of Club President, Michael Levy, overcame young Neilson in straight sets.

Levy certainly did not have the match all his own way. Neilson challenged him, especially in the second set, when Neilson reeled off four games in a row before Levy took control and closed out the match 6-1, 6-4.

Men’s Open pool matches continue in the coming weekends and will then also enter the more competitive knock out phases until the end of May with the 2024 Final in Early June.