Tennis hotshots from across the region have battled it out at the 98th edition of Cobram Lawn Tennis Club’s annual Labour Day tournament at the weekend.
Hundreds of players fought it out on the grass courts in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles over three days of action on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“It was a terrific weekend. I think we have it down to a fine art now, as far as the committee goes,” Cobram Lawn Tennis Club president David Bate said.
“We only ever hear good feedback. I couldn’t be prouder of the committee for doing the job that they have done. A lot of the junior committee helped out as well and we were able to put on a great destination tournament for the town.
“It was unreal tennis to watch. The men and women really put on a show.”
Young ace Isabella Crossman was one of the stars of the tournament, with the teenager winning three events on the weekend – the women’s open singles, women’s open doubles and open mixed doubles.
Crossman, from Torrumbarry, lost just one game in the open singles overall, defeating last year’s winner Kelsey Williams 6-1, 6-0 in the final.
She then teamed up with partner Jinaya Nurse to beat Williams and Ashlea Andrews 6-4, 6-0 in the open doubles.
Crossman and Deagan Tomkins won the mixed doubles final 8-1.
Bate was full of praise for Crossman after her terrific performance.
“She is next level, Isabella was way too good for last year’s champion Kelsey,” Bate said.
“We probably won’t see much of her in the next couple of years. Maybe next year, but the year after that I think she might have bigger fish to fry,” he said, referring to the young star's fast ascent in the sport.
In the open men’s, Sam Dowler was crowned the singles champ after defeating Joseph Sirianni 7-6, 6-2 in a high-quality final.
Sirianni reached the second round of the Australian Open back in 2003 and he defeated David Poole 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling semi-final.
But Sirianni ran out of steam in the finale, with Dowler earning this year’s championship title.
Bate said it was amazing to watch Sirianni in action.
“I have never seen a bloke with such pure ball-striking ability,” he said.
“He hit a couple of backhands that cracked like a whip, it was so good to watch.”
Nicholas Fenaughty and David Poole won the men’s doubles event.
In the other grades, a host of Cobram players were able to earn titles on their home courts.
Ben Barr finished first in the 14-and-under boys’ singles, prevailing 8-6 in the final against Digby Squirrell.
In the C-grade women’s doubles, it was Olivia Campbell and Jodie Wastell who were the standouts, taking out the title.
The duo had a close 8-6 win in the semis, before defeating Joanne Bourke and Fiona Clark 8-2 in the final.
Gemma Janssens finished on top of the 12-and-under girls’ ladder, while Ella Janssens and Ava Ross-Soden finished first in the 14-and-under girls’ doubles.