19 December 2024 | Tennis Victoria

The 2024 Victorian State Masters brought the heat—both on and off the court—as temperatures soared above 40 degrees in Bendigo. Despite the challenging conditions, Victoria’s top 160 junior tennis players demonstrated incredible endurance and skill throughout the four-day event, held at the Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre from 14—17 December.

The tournament provided a unique experience for players and spectators alike, with the 16’s, 18’s, and Progress Series Nationals held simultaneously at the same venue. This 2-day crossover offered the State Masters athletes the chance to watch some of Australia’s best junior talent in action, creating a vibrant atmosphere with cheering crowds throughout the weekend.

Saturday evening’s mixed doubles session brought a fun and fast-paced change of pace, with players showcasing their versatility and teamwork under the lights.

The event was made possible by the outstanding facilities and hospitality of the Bendigo Regional Tennis Association. Tennis Victoria extends its gratitude to the association and new President Anthony Day for hosting the event at their impressive venue. Additionally, a thank you goes to the City of Greater Bendigo and Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf, who showed her support, attending on the Tuesday.

Kim Kachel, CEO of Tennis Victoria, extended his appreciation, stating:
“We know this event is more than just a great tennis tournament for the community too and we thank the City of Greater Bendigo for the ongoing support. The State Masters provides a significant economic impact to Bendigo and the region.”

The Victorian State Masters marks the culmination of a year of competitive play across the Junior Tour. A heartfelt congratulations to all athletes who qualified, earning their place among the top 32 players in their age group through exceptional performances during the year.

“The tournament is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our junior players. To see such incredible talent on display, especially in challenging conditions, was truly inspiring. Bendigo provided the perfect backdrop for this showcase of Victoria’s future stars,” Kachel said.

Player Highlights:

• The Patil sisters showcased their prowess, winning the 12/U Girls Doubles title after competing against each other in singles earlier in the day.
• Regional star Willow Kelly stole the show, taking home both the Girls 14/U Singles and Doubles titles—a standout achievement as the only player to win both events.
• The Boys’ events followed the formbook, with all number-one seeds taking the titles. However, the Girls’ 14/U and 16/U Singles events saw thrilling upsets as underdogs claimed victory.

Results:

Boys 12/U

• Singles: Thaadhie Karunanayake def. Binson Yu 6-2 6-0
• Doubles: Kayden Jin / Isaac Liu def. Lucas Joran Mikkelsen / Thaadhie Karunanayake 6-2 6-2

Girls 12/U

• Singles: Talia Mirzayeva def. Nahla Naqqash 6-3 6-4
• Doubles: Sara Patil / Arya Patil def. Nia Khimasia / Talia Mirzayeva 7-5 4-6 12-10

Boys 14/U

• Singles: Roman Filipovic def. Leon Suljovic 6-3 6-0
• Doubles: Nicholas Mitsinikos / Oscar Whitmore def. Will Brooks-Gay / Tyler Zeuschner 6-3 6-2

Girls 14/U

• Singles: Willow Kelly def. Esther Meng 6-2 3-6 6-3
• Doubles: Bianca Hristov / Willow Kelly def. Isabel Cairns / Lily Khonsavang 6-4 7-5

Boys 16/U

• Singles: Kanvar Singh def. Om Kumaran Chinnaswamy 6-2 6-4
• Doubles: Salvatore Soepardi / Joel Thomas def. Om Kumaran Chinnaswamy / Kanvar Singh 6-1 4-6 10-4

Girls 16/U

• Singles: Lola Grigor def. Sasha Minin 3-6 6-3 7-5
• Doubles: Savannah James / Sasha Minin def. Talia Crngarov / Elizabeth Nad 6-4 5-1

Congratulations to all players, coaches, and supporters for a fantastic event that showcased the depth of junior talent in Victoria. The State Masters was a fitting end to an incredible year of tennis in Victoria.

To watch some of our coverage from the event, click on the following links:

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