On a great May day, 1 of 6 teams won on Saturday. Unfortunately a washout prevented the new Sunday team from making their debut.

Nevertheless, it was pleasing to see competitive debuts for Allan Sheffield, Raphael Diamond and Brett Maltz.

Pictured below are Ash Raboy, Allan Sheffield and Brett Maltz.

Below is David Zulman and Ben Pollak after hard fought singles wins.

TENNIS VICTORIA WINTER PENNANT

Grade 5 Section 2 Maccabi 0-0-20 defeated by Mountain Gate 6-10-64

Jonny Henquin/ Rafael Epstein 6-8
Marty Schwarz/ Rob Minc 4-8
Jonny Henquin 2-6 4-6
Rafael Epstein 1-6 0-6
Marty Schwarz 0-6 2-6
Rob Minc 0-6 1-6

Tough loss today against very strong opposition. Not the start of the season we were after but only upwards from here.

- Jonny Henquin

Grade 8 Section 2 Maccabi washed out against Kooyong

Jordan Jaffe
Gidon Scop
Joey Pat
Aden Minaker

Grade 10 Section 2 Maccabi 0-0-31 defeated by Mayfield Park 6-10-65

Daniel Sneider/ Marcus Frajman 6-8
Luka Federman/ Dean Jackson 4-8
Daniel Sneider 2-6 1-6
Marcus Frajman 3-6 3-6
Luka Federman 4-6 5-7
Dean Jackson 3-6 0-6

We were outclassed by a strong opposition. Dan and Marcus battled hard against some heavy hitters and brought some late pressure by winning a few games at the end. Young guns Luka and Dean were also beaten on the next court.

Their number 1 (UTR 8.64) was particularly strong and too good for Dan. Marcus was pleased to get through his match unscathed after an ankle injury. Dean enjoyed the challenge of playing at a higher level and we look forward to seeing his development throughout the season. The match of the day featured Luka with some enthralling rallies. Unfortunately, Luka was narrowly beaten and we weren't able to come away with a rubber today.

- Marcus Frajman

Grade 14 Section 2 Maccabi 3-6-46 defeated Koonung 3-4-43

Arvid Kreimer/ Ryan Behr 8-2
Adam Needleman/ Darion Pohl 8-6
Arvid Kreimer 1-6 2-6
Ryan Behr 1-6 6-2 (6-10)
Adam Needleman 6-3 6-2
Darion Pohl 2-6 6-4 (5-10)
 

( footnote we lost two third set tiebreaks in singles so thought we had finished equal on rubbers and sets and it would come down to games and only 3 players were left from the two teams because of the very late finish to sort this out. It took half an hour to realise the only way was to enter scores electronically online. Turns out a third set tie break does NOT count as a set or a game but simply decides the rubber).

We played against a squad from a private school in Camberwell that all had more powerful first serves, bigger forehands and better backhands. Somehow we won ( just ) and the secret was experience and tennis nous.

Arvid and Ryan are literally an unbeatable combination as they have not lost in several years playing together. Losing a game or two early against big hitters started to have some doubt appear but no fear for “ the unbeatables “.

Darion and myself ( Adam ) on the other hand had not paired together and unbeknownst were up against their very powerful number 1 ranked player . He served first and not many balls were returned. However, fortune favours the ignorant and we got on a roll leading 7-3 but pride comes before a fall. Next minute it's 7-6 and we were down 0-30 serving and the rot looked like it had settled in. Fortunately we rallied and held on to a very solid and pleasing win.

The singles against big hitters was interesting. With the new balls all our players struggled with the extra pace with three of the four players only winning 4 games combined in the first set. Darion Pohl and Ryan Behr used their experience and started to dictate both winning their second sets to tie their contests. Unfortunately the sudden death format often favours the brave and their big hitting opponents ended up taking the rubbers.

Fortunately we ended up winning the one singles rubber we needed in a great start to the season.
Really good efforts from ALL players is what happened and is the only way our team with no high ranked number 1 must play if we are to win. A very even effort today and look forward to the season.

- Adam Needleman

Grade 18 Section 2 Maccabi 2-2-36 defeated by Donvale 4-8-58

Stephen Gorenstein/ Ben Pollak 3-8
David Zulman/ Joel Rabinov 6-8
David Zulman 6-1 2-6 (10-8)
Joel Rabinov 4-6 1-6
Stephen Gorenstein 3-6 2-6
Ben Pollak 2-6 7-5 (10-3)

The first of many drives for away games (on the synthetic courts of Donvale).

Stephen and Ben played together for the first time. Unfortunately they played against older, craftier opponents who could volley, going down 3-8.

David (who kindly filled in) and Joel got off to a slow start 1-4 with the opposition number 1 asserting his authority (whilst the left hander hit unreturned serves). The opposition kept that gap and had a match point at 7-4 but didn't serve it out. David and Joel got it back to 6-7 and had a break point for 7all but couldn't get the break back, going down 6-8.

Stephen started well for a 3-1 lead. However his opponent stepped up his level and exploited Stephen's weaknesses, beating Stephen 6-3, 6-2.

Joel trailed the whole match in a match filled with frustration, going down 4-6, 1-6.

David and his opponent played in a high quality match (outside of the approach shots and passing shots where both players went the wrong way). David started well for 6-1, before his opponent stepped it up for 6-2. David did the hard work in the match tiebreaker for a 9-5 lead, before prevailing for 10-8.

Ben played a leftie (who had a backhand like Geoff Rosenberger: purely shovelled the ball, however nothing else resembled Geoff's game). Ben went down 2-6 in the opening set, before upping his level to take the 2nd set 7-5 and the match tiebreaker 10-3.

Overall: Great effort for David and Ben to get some wins for us. 
As for me, a shocking day that was summed up by 2 moments. At 1-4 my opponent broke a string on his first serve: he proceeded to borrow his team-mates racquet and despite me dominating the point I managed to lose it. Then in the 2nd set at 1-2: controlled two points to start the game yet lost both because one ball bounced above my head (and forced me onto the back foot) whilst the next point the ball skidded and at ankle level. That sort of day where I should have been comfortably winning yet couldn't even win a point. Anyway we have plenty to work with: we will also regain our stronger players across the next few weeks, starting off with next week's home match.

 - Joel Rabinov

Grade 19 Section 2 Maccabi 0-1-37 defeated by Parkdale 6-9-63

Sebastian Raboy/ Ashley Raboy 2-8
Allan Sheffield/ Brett Maltz 5-8
Sebastian Raboy 3-6 6-7
Ashley Raboy 1-6 6-3 (2-10)
Allan Sheffield 5-7 4-6
Brett Maltz 3-6 2-6

Melbourne dished up a perfect winter’s day to kick off the season—clear skies, mild air, and just enough warmth to make it feel like tennis was exactly where everyone should be.

Our Team for the day: Sebastian Raboy, Ashley Raboy, Allan Sheffield, and Brett Maltz.

We started the Doubles matches first with No. 1 Sebastian and No. 2 Ashley playing as No. 1 Doubles Pair, and No. 3 Allan  and No. 4 Brett playing as No. 2 Doubles Pair.

Doubles Pair No. 1 Ashley and Sebastian were up.against their opponents, No. 1 Dante and No. 3 Herschel. 

The match started with Dunlop Tennis balls feeling very poppy coming off the strings and hard to control. Once Ash and Seb started getting a better idea of their opponents game and better on their own game, started to get traction, most of the games going to Deuce and Advantage and back to Deuce again, but their opponents were too good on the day, and Ash and Seb succumbed 2-8.

In the Singles Ashley Played their No. 2 player, Sam (who Serves like Perricard) and although a daunting task, prepared to be on the receiving end of a few aces. Sam also had a wicked backhand weapon too. Ash got to return quite a few returns and also managed to serve some aces of his own. Ash went down 1-6 in the First Set, but knew he could do better, so on the Second Set, Ash took it to him winning the 2nd Set 6-3, setting up a Super Tie-Break, however, Sam had kept all his aces and tricks saved up and before Ash knew it, he succumbed 2-10.

Sebastian played last at No. 1 against Dante who.had an unusual loopy forehand that I don't think he even knew where it would go, but one of the longer matches, succumbed 3-6 and 6-7. With Sebastian fighting valiantly till the end.

 

The Contest

Maccabi headed to Parkdale knowing they’d be tested—and tested they were. Parkdale came out firing across all courts, playing clean, consistent tennis and making the most of key moments.

Doubles: Facing “The Missile” 🚀

Brett and Alan made their debut pairing for the club, thrown straight into the action. Across the net stood a formidable combination, highlighted by Sam—whose serve can only be described as weaponised.

Calling it “fast” doesn’t do it justice. Think somewhere between Mark Philippoussis in his prime and a full-blown railgun. Returns weren’t just difficult—they were survival.

Despite that, Brett and Alan showed great composure in rallies, matching their opponents from the baseline and refusing to be blown away entirely. They dug in, competed hard, and made their opponents earn everything.

Result: 5–8
A strong effort against overwhelming firepower.

Singles Battles

Alan (“Sheffa”) – The War of Attrition

Alan stepped into a marathon at third singles against a younger but battle-hardened opponent. What followed was less a match and more a test of endurance, patience, and mental steel.

Long rallies, extended games, and momentum swings defined the contest. It ultimately came down to a handful of crucial points that just slipped away.

Result: 5–7, 4–6
The vibe: relentless grit. A match where the scoreline doesn’t fully capture how tight it truly was.

Brett – The Break Point Battle

Brett’s singles outing was a story of fine margins. Nearly every game felt like it went to deuce, with both players locked in tight exchanges.

The difference? Conversion. His opponent managed to take key break chances, while Brett was left ruing a few missed opportunities.

Still, the competitiveness and consistency were there—this one could easily swing the other way next time. Brett fought valiantly but succumbing 3-6, and then 2-6.

Ashley – Rising to the Challenge

Ashley proved he was more than capable of handling Parkdale’s heavy artillery. Against one of their stronger hitters, he stood tall, returning with authority and showing composure under pressure.

A performance that signals plenty of promise for the season ahead.

Overall Takeaways

Parkdale were clinical – they took their chances and controlled the key moments.

Maccabi showed fight – especially in the tighter singles matches and against elite serving.

Debuts with promise – Brett and Alan showed plenty to build on in their first outing together.

Plenty of “almost” moments – matches that could easily flip with a bit more polish.

Looking Ahead

Round one may not have gone our way on the scoreboard, but there’s a strong foundation here. With more time together, sharper execution on big points, and a bit less exposure to ballistic serves, this team will be dangerous.

Next week: fewer missiles, more wins. 🎾

- Ash Raboy

Grade 21 Section 1 Maccabi 2-3-44 defeated by Drouin 4-7-58

Daniel Brami/ Raphael Diamond 5-8
Stephen Kleid/ Daniel Fromm 3-8
Daniel Brami 7-6 6-3
Raphael Diamond 2-6 3-6
Stephen Kleid 4-6 2-6
Daniel Fromm 6-2 6-7 (10-3)

Daniel B made a slow start but found his rhythm in time to take a tight first set in a tiebreak, then controlled the second to win comfortably.

Raph was put under pressure early and, despite competing hard, couldn’t shift momentum and went down in straight sets.

Stephen pushed a close first set but after just missing it, the second slipped away as his opponent lifted.

Daniel Fromm delivered a standout first Pennant win, overcoming a late match calf injury in the process. After taking the first set comfortably, he began to struggle physically late in the second. With Dr Kleid courtside and his opponent a physio, there was no shortage of expertise available. Following some quick attention, Fromm pushed through, battled into a match tiebreak and held his nerve to get over the line. The invoices are likely already in the mail.

Dan and Raph were competitive throughout but couldn’t convert key moments as the set slipped away.

Fromm braved the doubles despite his injury alongside Stephen K, but the pair couldn’t match a strong combination and went down.

- Daniel Brami