2 February 2024 | Tennis West

After the Christmas and New Years break, State League returns on Friday night, headlined by four matches under lights. 

Heading into this weekend, Cottesloe remains on top of the Men’s State League ladder and is in a strong position with two of the three games to be played at home. Close behind them is the in-form Peppermint Grove who are on a three-match winning streak.

Alexander Park in third is another side on a winning streak, having won their last two games before the break against UWA and Blue Gum Park.

After starting the season well with two wins from two, Blue Gum Park find themselves in fourth place with tough matches to come against Peppermint Grove and ladder leaders Cottesloe.

It will be a battle to stay in the hunt for the top three with UWA (fifth place) and Mt Lawley/Sorrento (sixth place) going head-to-head this weekend.

In the women’s State League, ladder leaders Hensman Park take on Applecross in the match of the round this Friday night at Hensman Park. Applecross sits fifth on the ladder but are on equal wins with Peppermint Grove who are in third place.

After losing against Hensman Park in round one, Royal Kings Park have won five of their last six matches and are the form team, sitting in second place and are two wins clear of third place Peppermint Grove.

Dalkeith remains on the bottom of the ladder but finished the end of the first half of the season strong with a win against Alexander Park and came close to defeating Royal Kings Park, losing on sets.

 

Match of the Round: Hensman Park v Applecross 

Ladder leaders Hensman Park comes up against a side that can contend with the best. The Applecross side found some form before the Christmas break, winning three matches on the trot against Dalkeith, Royal Kings Park and Peppermint Grove.

A key to Hensman Park’s strength is their ability to win doubles matches. The team has dropped just three doubles matches this season (9 doubles wins) and two of those losses came from a depleted team in round 6.

 

Key Match-Up 1: Anja Dokic (Hensman Park) v Ruby Broadbent (Applecross) 

Anja Dokic comes into this match undefeated in the five games she has played this season, playing predominantly as the No. 1 player. Her opponent, Ruby Broadbent has been playing as the No. 1 for Applecross and is on a three-match losing streak, however Broadbent has come up against some strong talent in Peyton Duckett, Jessie Culley and Rhea Makesar. Three of Broadbent’s four losses this season have gone to a third set match tiebreak meaning she can match it with the best and is never far away from winning.

 

Key Match-Up 2: Ksenija Vujacic (Hensman Park) v Sunny Youn (Applecross) 

Ksenija Vujacic is another player who is undefeated from five appearances this season. Vujacic has played primarily as No. 3 winning most matches comfortably. Her opponent, Sunny Youn makes her debut in the No. 2 position this week after starting the season in fourth place. This season, Youn has won four matches and lost three. In round 2 when these sides met, Youn defeated Tan 6-4, 7-5 and Vujacic won against Royall 6-3, 6-0.

 

Other key matches around State League on Streamer 

Men’s 

Friday 2nd February, 6 pm 

Blue Gum Park v Peppermint Grove at Blue Gum Park Tennis Club

Key match-up: Ethan Cook v Jake Robinson

 

Mt Lawley/Sorrento v UWA at Mt Lawley Tennis Club

Key match-up: Casey Ambler v Hans Bustiman

 

Saturday, 3rd February, 1 pm 

Cottesloe v Alexander Park at Cottesloe Tennis Club

Key match-up: Scott Webster v Scott Jones

 

Women’s 

Friday 2nd February, 6 pm 

Peppermint Grove v Dalkeith at Peppermint Grove Tennis Club

Key match-up: Jessie Culley v Lauren Nikoloski

 

Saturday 3rd February, 1 pm 

Alexander Park v Royal Kings Park at Alexander Park Tennis Club

Key match-up: Shanelle Iaconi v Amelia Tatafu