As the nation celebrates one massive Barty Party during the ongoing Australian Open, the Limestone Coast’s best will have a racquet in their hands as the Mount Gambier and District Tennis Association season springs back to life tomorrow night.
The tennis action returns to the courts in a big way with the Division 1 players taking centre stage under the Friday night lights at Olympic Park.
Leading the pack before the Christmas break was Centrals/Uniting and the squad will be determined to re-establish its right as the early premiership favourite.
The team has only lost once during the first nine rounds and its assault is fronted by Andrew van den Hurk.
Van den Hurk has been one of the premier players in the competition for many years and has shown his class winning 20 of his 21 singles contests, while Mark Heemskerk has been a successful doubles partner.
The ladder leaders meet last summer’s premier Glencoe led by Dylan Childs.
Sadly, Glencoe has been a shadow of its former self this summer being unable to register an overall victory with its best performance a draw against Reidy Park in the opening round.
Although the maroons suffered a disappointing first segment of the summer, they were able to enter the break on a high.
Glencoe clawed closer than ever to victory in the last round before Christmas against West Gambier, falling six games short.
Childs’ team dominated the doubles and will aim for similar cohesion to challenge the top team in town.
Having been able to catch its breath from the heart-stopping battle against Glencoe, West Gambier looks to take the fight up to Reidy Park.
Fans can expect a tasty battle between the sides after they went toe-to-toe in an unforgettable contest just two rounds ago.
The rivals shared six sets each as the contest went down to the wire with only two games the difference at the end.
Throughout some entertaining rallies the singles sets went back and forth, but Reidy Park sealed the deal in the doubles as Jaymee Young, Emily and Sharon Edwards came to the fore in the must-win rubbers.
The narrow win was an important moment in the context of Reidy Park’s season.
The club has enjoyed a resurgence towards the top of the tennis tree thanks to the guidance of its rising star captain Zayne Young and the squad’s fearless approach.
Bailey Young has also been in hot form boasting an unbeatable record in doubles so far.
Reidy Park would love to start the second phase of the season on a winning note to keep leaders Centrals/Uniting honest in the run home to finals.
West Gambier is no stranger to close contests and desperately wants glory to stay in touch with the top two.
The side based at Malseed Park sits a lonely third on the ladder and would not mind a more relaxing contest after emerging from two consecutive six-all thrillers.
Jo Sealey has a decent team up her sleeve with youngster Ty Lang one of the standouts winning more sets than he losses.
Reidy Park starts as the favourite, but West will have something to say no doubt in what should be the game of the round.
West Gambier Red and Glencoe have jumped clear from the pack in a closely contested Division 2 ladder.
The fight for the minor placings will be one to watch with Mount Gambier Blue, Reidy Park and West Gambier Blue separated by a single win.
Both teams bearing blue in their name will face off in the standout fixture of the weekend at Malseed Park with the result possibly having a significant bearing down the track.
The class teams of Division 3 are clearly Suttontown Tigers and Mil Lel.
The Tigers have roared the loudest winning every battle so far, while Mil Lel has given them a run for their money scoring eight of a possible nine wins.
The pair just happens to face off in a top-of-the-table contest which could be a Grand Final preview at Suttontown this Saturday afternoon.
