11 August 2025 | Tennis Victoria

As we move closer to the finals of the 2025 Tennis Victoria Pennant season, it’s not only the competition heating up. This past fortnight also marked an important milestone off the court, as Tennis Victoria proudly hosted its inaugural First Nations Round.

Held at Geelong Lawn Tennis Club and Beaumaris Lawn Tennis Club, the round was an opportunity to pay respect to and celebrate the cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Victoria. Acknowledging the significance of the lands on which we play, the round included Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies, which offered players and spectators a moment to reflect and connect.

Tennis Victoria Inclusion Coordinator Kayla Ryan said the response was overwhelmingly positive. “First Nations Rounds are aimed at celebrating culture and acknowledging First Nations people’s contribution to tennis and community,” she said. “They also provide a learning opportunity for players, staff and host clubs. In Geelong, the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony were accompanied by a clear message of connection and supporting each other that was well received by the players. “We are very appreciative of the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Wathaurong Cultural Centre for working with us in this inaugural year. We look forward to growing First Nations Round in 2026 as we continue to work towards making tennis welcoming, safe and inclusive for all.”

2025 Pennant Season – Round 12 Recap

With just two rounds remaining in the regular season, the 2025 Tennis Victoria Pennant competition is delivering outstanding performances from clubs and players across the board.

Spanning 14 weeks of competitive play across Melbourne and regional Victoria, Pennant offers players the opportunity to proudly represent their clubs and compete at a high level through winter,” said Aleksander Ceran, Tennis Victoria Competitive Play Coordinator.

Women’s Competition – Top Performers

• Beaumaris (State Grade)
  142 points | Match Ratio: 11.83
  • Ruby Ward: 10–1 singles record
• Kooyong (Grade 1, Team 2)
  137 points | Match Ratio: 11.42
  • Sienna Yokota-Ho: 5–0 singles record
• Doveton (Grade 2)
  156 points | Match Ratio: 14.18
  • Coco Philip: 10–0 singles record
• Royal South Yarra (Grade 3, Section 1)
  142 points | Match Ratio: 11.83
  • Steph Kortum: 6–1 singles record
• Eaglemont (Grade 4, Section 2)
  134 points | Match Ratio: 11.17
  • Celine Tan: 7–0 singles record
• Buckley Park (Grade 5, Section 2)
  140 points | Match Ratio: 14.00
  • Eva Lamaris: 7–0 singles record

Men’s Competition – Top Performers

• North Ringwood (State Grade)
  129 points | Match Ratio: 10.75
  • Evan Vasiliadis: 8–0 singles record
• Eildon Park (Grade 1)
  157 points | Match Ratio: 13.08
  • Sam Dinneen: 9–1 singles record
• Grace Park Hawthorn (Grade 2)
  136 points | Match Ratio: 11.33
  • Louis Taylor: 8–1 singles record
• Peninsula Fire (Grade 3)
  150 points | Match Ratio: 12.50
  • Evan Atkinson: 8–0 singles record
• Vermont South (Grade 4)
  170 points | Match Ratio: 14.17
  • Sean Spralja: 10–1 singles record
• Norris Bank (Grade 5)
  125 points | Match Ratio: 10.42
  • Oliver Baker: 9–1 singles record
• Beaumaris (Grade 6, Section 4)
  163 points | Match Ratio: 13.58
  • Nicholas Adam Shaw: 9–0 singles record
• Royal Park (Grade 7, Section 1)
  152 points | Match Ratio: 12.67
  • Dipanshu Garg: 9–0 singles record
• Gracedale Park (Grade 8, Section 2)
  141 points | Match Ratio: 11.75
  • John Riggio: 5–0 singles record
• East Coburg (Grade 9, Section 2)
  150 points | Match Ratio: 12.50
  • Jack Nancarrow: 9–0 singles record
• Box Hill (Grade 10, Section 3)
  137 points | Match Ratio: 11.42
  • Kartik Jayaraman: 4–1 singles record
• Bulleen (Grade 11, Section 2)
  141 points | Match Ratio: 11.75
  • Evan Cordell: 6–1 singles record
• Tennis World Albert Reserve (Grade 12, Section 2)
  157 points | Match Ratio: 13.08
  • Benjamin Lambell: 7–1 singles record

Around the Grounds – Club/Team Highlights

• Women’s Beaumaris Lawn Tennis Club Grade 2- Section 3 team
• Melissa Fitzgerald has impressed with 4 wins this season
• Women’s Greythorn Park’s Tennis Club Grade 5 Section 1 team
• Trinity Rodrigues has impressed with 3 wins this season
• Men’s Berwick Tennis Club Grade 6 Section 4 team
• David NG has Impressed with 4 wins this season
• Women’s Drouin Tennis Club Grade 4- Section 3 (Sat PM)
• Kyra Manukau has impressed with 4 wins this season
• Men’s Dandenong South Tennis Club Grade 3- Section 4
• Niki Zandes has posted 2 wins from 5 matches this season
• Men’s Maccabi Tennis Club Grade 8- Section 3 (Blue)
• Luka Federman has impressed with an unbeaten 3 wins singles record
• Women’s Keon Park TC Grade 1
• Jocelyn Jia has stood solid with a 2 wins from 5 singles matches record
• Men’s Masters 35+ Hawthorn Tennis Club Grade 2
• Shaan Talk from Hawthorn’s Masters Grade 2 team has performed well by posting 2 victories from 6 matches

As finals approach, the 2025 Tennis Victoria Pennant season continues to deliver competitive excellence and memorable moments both on and off the court. From outstanding individual performances to powerful cultural celebrations, this year’s season is shaping up to be one of impact.

Stay tuned for more coverage as we head into the final rounds of the season and prepare to crown the 2025 Pennant champions.