As the 2025/26 Tennis West State League and Junior State League Season approaches, the anticipation builds as teams and players are confirmed and ready to go.
With a diverse lineup of seasoned champions and promising newcomers, this season is set to be a riveting showcase of top-tier tennis talent. Let’s take a closer look at the State League and Junior State League teams nominated for this season.
The Junior State League preview will be out tomorrow; stay tuned!
MEN’S STATE LEAGUE TEAMS
Cottesloe Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: Runners Up
Captain: Max Weir
Last season’s finalists were impressive once against last season, finishing first in the home and away season and hosting the final, ultimately falling short to Peppermint Grove. The team remains similar with regulars like Max Weir, who is now captain, Cameron Burton, Ben Webster and Adam Kehane all returning. The Cottesloe side has lost experienced players in last season’s MVP Will Hann, Ethan Dunn and Scott Webster – three that regularly played in the top positions. The side has added up and coming junior Sehun Park who recently got experience playing in the ITF Perth International M25 qualifiers.
State League Expert prediction: 2nd
Mt Lawley Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 3rd
Captain: Luca Katsamakis
Mt Lawley (formally Mt Lawley/Sorrento) comes into the season with high hopes after improving from the 2023/24 season. The team remains much the same with regulars Casey Ambler, captain Luca Katsamakis and Kendrick Chia all returning. Jake Dembo will also continue to represent Mt Lawley and looks to be a key player – now a year older and with ITF men’s experience under his belt with his most recent main draw performances in the Perth International, Dembo looks set for a breakthrough year.
State League Expert prediction: 4th
Alexander Park Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 5th
Captain: Ashwin Sharma
While the results didn’t quite go their way last season, the side is very experienced and remains the same. Ashwin Sharma will lead the team again and will be joined by the in form Scott Jones who recently made the final of the Perth International ITF M25 #1 singles final, Nemanja Savic and Evan Manso – all who have played multiple seasons with the club. Added to the squad is rising star Aidan Chan who could feature at some point in the season.
State League Expert prediction: 3rd
Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 4th
Captain: Jake Robinson
Royal Kings Park looks to have a good mix of youth and experience with Jake Robinson, Darren Slater and Zach Itzstein returning for another season. The team will also include youngsters Lincoln Duckett who tasted State League action last season and Yangho Park. The only exclusion is Hans Bustiman who moves to Claremont Lawn Tennis Club.
State League Expert prediction: 5th
UWA Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 6th
Captain: Archie Brown
The 2024/25 season was a year of development after losing some of their big players over last season’s off season. The team remains young but boasts a side in the Junior State League who are all talented up and coming players meaning the future may be bright. Something to keep your eye on in the next few years! Archie Brown takes the captaincy and will be joined by Alfonso Calderon, Ben Galvao and Suyash Makesar, all under the age of 21.
State League Expert prediction: 6th
Claremont Lawn Tennis Club
New to State League
Captain: Sam Chapman
Claremont Lawn Tennis Club is the new side to come into the league and will look to play a big part in the season with the arrival of most, if not all last year’s Peppermint Grove’s premiership players. Last year’s premiership players Tim Gray, Ethan Cook, Jayden Court, Sam Ashenden and Sam Chapman will all line up as well as newly recruited Hans Bustiman who comes from Royal Kings Park. The Claremont Lawn Tennis Club side will not go by their club’s name and choose to play their home games on hard courts on a Friday night.
State League Expert prediction: 1st
WOMEN’S STATE LEAGUE TEAMS
Dalkeith Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 4th
Captain: Lauren Nikoloski
After finishing last season with a late run into the finals, the Dalkeith side will go into this season knowing they can take it to any team. The side has a good mix of experience and youth and remains mostly unchanged with experienced players and captain Lauren Nikoloski, Hayley Burton, Meg Connell and Sally Partington all returning. Young talent will be on display with Tara Aleksic returning and Isabelle Criddle joining the team after playing a couple of State League matches for Peppermint Grove last season.
State League Expert prediction: 3rd
Hensman Park Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: Winners
Captain: Ella Nurkic
Can they do the three-peat? The Hensman Park side looks strong to defend their title with last season’s MVP Alice Stevens, newly appointed captain Ella Nurkic, Jaun Yum and Anja Dokic all continuing on for another season. 2025 WA Open Women’s Winner and Karen Bucens Award Winner Karin Hiramatsu also returns after an impressive year. The team knows how to win and has incredible depth and will go into the season as the firm favourites.
State League Expert prediction: 1st
Cottesloe Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: Runners Up
Captain: Alicia Molik
Possibly the best team to challenge last season’s premiers Hensman Park. Cottesloe remains largely unchanged and like Hensman Park, boasts depth in their list and has the experience led by Alicia Molik, who returned to State League last season. Elena Manoj is one to watch as she continues her impressive and continued rise in form over the past two seasons. Elena was incredibly consistent, rarely losing a singles tie and also won the club Champion of Champions Singles title for Cottesloe in April. Cottesloe has also added Nisha Whittome from Peppermint Grove – who does not have a State League side this season. Regulars Jessie Culley, Ruby Culley, Ksenija Vujacic and Saanvi Tak all return to the side.
State League Expert prediction: 2nd
UWA Tennis Club
New this season
Captain: Amy Findlay
UWA join the fold this season and bring in a mix of players from other clubs. The main bulk of players come from the now defunct Peppermint Grove side with Amy Findlay, Sunny Youn and May White swapping the hard courts for the clay courts. UWA has also added Riana Tan from Hensman Park after struggling to play consistently last season in Hensman Park’s strong team.
State League Expert prediction: 5th
Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
2024/25 Finish: 3rd
Captain: Mahta Khanloo
After finishing in a respectable third position last season and claiming the odd upset, Royal Kings Park could be the dark horse of the competition. Their number one ranked player and promising junior talent Sara Nikolic returns while the side keeps Mahta Khanloo who has had an impressive off season making the final of the 2025 WA Open and Brooke Campbell. Claudia Shearwood comes over from Alexander Park and youngsters Jasmin Heapes and Misty Woodhouse join the side and will add depth.
State League Expert prediction: 4th
Disclaimer: The views and predictions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tennis West, Tennis West Leagues or its affiliates.
Men’s Fixtures:
Claremont v UWA
17th October, Friday 6 PM – Claremont Lawn Tennis Club
Cottesloe v Alexander Park
18th October, Saturday 1 PM – Cottesloe Tennis Club
Royal Kings Park v Mt Lawley
18th October, Saturday 1 PM – Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
Women’s Fixtures:
Hensman Park v Cottesloe
17th October, Friday 6 PM – Hensman Park Tennis Club
Dalkeith v Royal Kings Park
18th October, Saturday 1 PM – Royal Kings Park Tennis Club
BYE – UWA
With matches starting on Friday, all matches throughout the State League season will be live streamed on the Tennis West Facebook page.
Men’s State League: Match Centre – Division Profile – 2025/26 TW Saturday Men’s State League | Division 1
Women’s State League: Match Centre – Division Profile – 2025/26 TW Saturday Women’s State League | Division 1
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