By Joanna Campe
With one team representing Lilydale Tennis Club in the grand final this season, the boys were eager to play and bring home the win.
Junior Open Singles Doubles 3 v Upwey South
At the end of the standard season, Lilydale finished on top of the ladder with Upwey South finishing in second place. It was a fitting grand final with the two stand-out teams from the season competing to see who the Premiers would be.
With the finals, all registered players get to participate so for Lilydale it was Adam Paladino, Ari Marappan, Alex Paladino, Ryan Taylor and Joshua Jamieson. Upwey South was represented by Connor McLean, Josh McLean, Abbey McLean and Maya Rock.
It was a very competitive day with Lilydale winning the opening singles 6-4 and Upwey South taking the opening doubles 6-7 in a tiebreak. In the second singles, it was an impressive show by Adam from Lilydale winning 6-1. In the next doubles the McLean brothers Josh and Connor from Upwey proved too strong for Lilydale’s Ari and Josh with great net and doubles play winning 3-6. With two sets each, it was down to the last sets to decide the winner. The last doubles saw Josh and Abbey go up against Ryan and Alex from Lilydale. Excellent shots and rallies were a highlight, and Lilydale won their first doubles of the day 6-3. In the deciding set Ari and Connor both displayed great shots and long rallies but eventually, Ari from Lilydale took the set 7-5 to give Lilydale overall victory on the day.
Result: 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
