On an extremely windy afternoon, 4 out of 7 teams took the win.

Below is Nathan Rapoport enjoying the BLTC mod grass courts.

Entries are now open for the 2025 Victorian Jewish Tennis Championships (Seniors) (VJTC)!

Click here for more information: https://maccabi.com.au/jewish-tennis-champs.

Entries close on Sunday 24 August 2025

For any queries, please contact Joel on 0409 563 696.

Tennis Victoria Winter Pennant

Grade 5 Section 3 Maccabi 2-4-37 defeated by BLTC 4-4-42

Jonny Henquin/ Marty Schwarz 6-2 7-5
Daniel Sneider/ Steven Kleytman 1-6 6-0 7-10
Jonny Henquin 4-8
Marty Schwarz 8-5
Daniel Sneider 4-8
Steve Kleytman 1-8

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Grade 7 Section 4 Maccabi 4-5-43 defeated BLTC 2-3-45

Rob Minc / Steve Bendel 6-3 6-4
Saul Muscatel/ Nathan Rapoport 7-6 5-7 10-7
Rob Minc 8-3
Saul Muscatel 2-8
Steve Bendel 1-8
Nathan Rapoport 8-6

The cringeworthy Greta Thunberg bangs on about Global Warming. Wonder if she’s ever played tennis at 26 Bodley Avenue on a chilly breezy drizzly Saturday afternoon?

I was fortunate enough to fill in with Macabbi’s version of Reilly Opelka - Rob Minc, the amiable Saul Muscatel and the reincarnation of Phar Lap - Nathan Rapoport (this dude got a heart equal if not bigger than the great equine)

We played a quartet of teenagers who were unaware that Carlton weren’t always the laughing stock and were once a powerhouse in the AFL

“Opelka” and Bendel did what was required and won their No 1 dubs match (goddam how much does a high 5 hurt when playing with the big man on a cold day ?)

Muscatel and “Phar Lap” won in a 3 set decider (where we witnessed the shotmaking of Muscatel and the gritty determination of Rapoport)

Rob then decided to spank his opponent in the first singles. Never ceases to amaze how such a colossus has such dexterity.

Unfortunately Saul may have tweaked his adductors and was hampered with his movement.

Bendel well and truly outplayed. The only thing that could have stopped the onslaught was rain or a melee.

Nathan Rapoport take a bow young man. Stood up when needed. Never have I been more excited to watch a teammate win. “Phar Lap”fought tooth and nail. Loved what he brings to the table.

- Steve Bendel

Grade 8 Section 3 Maccabi  4-5-44 defeated Doveton 2-3-40

Marcus Frajman/ Luka Federman 6-3 3-6 10-12
Adam Needleman/ Daniel Henquin 6-3 4-6 10-5
Marcus Frajman 8-5
Luka Federman 8-3
Adam Needleman 1-8
Daniel Henquin 8-6

An interesting day with the wind swirling everywhere against the side clearly positioned in number 2 spot on the ladder. Last week we should have beaten the number one team but did not. A consecutive loss would have made finals a distant dream. This was simply a must win. After an hour and a half of doubles nothing separated the teams and it was just a preview of what the day had in store.

In the singles

1)Marcus Frajman had a very impressive win against a very talented left hander. The opponent hammered Marcus on his backhand side but could not break him down in a high standard affair.

2) Luka Federman was playing his first game for the club and what an excitement package he is. A 16yo who does not get fazed by pressure and concentrates methodically to do what is needed. After a solid doubles he backed it up with a very impressive singles against a guy with a similar UTR. He did not have to play flash to win as solid was the requirement against this opponent. Luka is solid and more. The highlight of the day was to see him play for us.

3)Adam Needleman was simply smashed off the court

4) Daniel Henquin played the last rubber and the result was to decide the day. Daniel has been in this position before. He loves it and against a very solid opponent won 8-6. If he had lost 6-8 the day would have ended in a tie.

The team inspired by some individual efforts now sits only 2 points outside the top 4. At this stage of the season ( 4 rounds to go ) with a favourable draw we are quietly confident.

- Adam Needleman

Grade 8 Section 3 Maccabi 0-0-23 defeated by Kings Park 6-8-56

Ilay Givoni/ Zvi Schweitzer 3-6 3-6
Ian Altman/ Joel Rabinov 2-6 2-6
Ilay Givoni 3-8
Ian Altman 4-8
Zvi Schweitzer 2-8
Joel Rabinov 4-8

At Kings Park on the en tout cas, Ilay and Zvi, Ian and Joel hit the courts. Both Kings Park pairs had a lefter hander.

The high winds troubled Ilay and Zvi, going down 3-6 3-6.

Joel and Ian were in the match with holds of serve for 2all. Unfortunately kept losing 50:50 points to go down 2-6. In the second set, nothing worked (other than breaking the lefite serve) for 2-6.

Ilay had his worst singles for the season, going down 3-8.

Zvi was in it early, before going down 2-8.

Ian played a leftie and stepped up from the doubles: unfortunately going down 4-8.

Joel played a player we are familiar against (a leftie who is stingy who doesn't miss a thing). The first 2 games would have gone over 25 minutes, with long deuces. Still, holds of serves unsued for 3all. Unfortunately the leftie stepped up, applying the pressure on the returns of serve to get the crucial break. Another break at 7-4 broke the match open for 8-4.

Overall: A tough day. This season has unravelled a bit for us. But we will keep chipping away: starting next week with the big derby. As for me: actually played at a good level. However the returns weren't there for the singles. Would have given my opponent a 40-0 or 40-15 lead in every return game. But onto the positives: don't recall ever being in a match where neither player hit a double fault.

 - Joel Rabinov

Grade 10 Section 4 Maccabi 5-6-52 defeated BLTC 1-2-24

Ben Pollak/ Jack Stock 5-7 3-6
Daniel Goodrich/ Sebastian Raboy 6-0 6-0 (Forfeit)
Daniel Goodrich 8-3
Ben Pollak 8-6
Sebastian Raboy 8-2
Jack Stock 8-0 (Forfeit)

The Maccabi Grade 10 team delivered a dramatic and hard-fought win at home this weekend against BLTC Beaumaris, overcoming wild weather, unexpected drama, and gusts worthy of a cyclone warning in what might go down as the windiest Saturday pennant day in over a decade.

⚠️ Match Day Chaos
Before a ball had even been served, the day began with unexpected tension when Beaumaris’s No. 4 player pulled up suddenly with a serious back injury during the warm-up. He was carried off the court, with a waiting Uber taking him home and his doubles partner departing to assist. This gave Maccabi an immediate advantage: one singles and one doubles match awarded.

🔥 Doubles: Hard-Fought but Just Short
Ben Pollak and Jack Stock faced off against Beaumaris’s top doubles pair in a gritty battle. The duo held strong in a tightly contested first set, narrowly edged out 5–7. Braving brutal winds, they adapted well in the second, taking a 3–1 lead with sharp volleys and aggressive baseline play, but were ultimately overrun, going down 3–6.

"Probably the windiest day we’ve played at Maccabi in 10 years," said Jack. "We adjusted well, especially at the net, but they managed to claw back momentum."

 Singles Showdown – Maccabi Stays Solid
Daniel Goodrich (No. 1) made a triumphant return from injury, dispatching a big-hitting opponent 8–3 with trademark consistency and calm.

"I just tried to keep the ball deep and let him make the errors — it paid off," Daniel reflected.

Ben Pollak (No. 2) was locked in a tight duel, leading early but seeing his advantage erased. Staying composed in a service-dominated match, Ben broke late to seal a clutch 8–6 victory.

"It was satisfying to grind that one out in the wind. We both held well, but I took my chance at 6–6."

Sebastian Raboy (No. 3) played with intelligence and flair against an older and experienced opponent. Adjusting to the wind with topspin-heavy loops and angled shots, Sebastian earned an emphatic 8–2 win.

Despite lighting issues on the back courts, Sebastian stayed focused and tactically sharp.

🏆 Result: Maccabi Wins 4 Rubbers to 2
This performance keeps Maccabi firmly in the finals race. With Monash University — the top team — falling to Mentone, Maccabi will now face a huge test next week when they host Mentone in what promises to be a blockbuster clash.
 

- Ash Raboy

Grade 11 Section 2 Maccabi 3-5-48 defeated Blackburn 3-3-31

Errol Dorfan/ Miguel Donnenfeld 6-2 2-6 6-10
Russell Golden/ Aden Minaker 6-2 6-0
Errol Dorfan 7-9
Russell Golden 8-2
Aden Minaker 8-2
Miguel Donnenfeld 5-8

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Grade 12 Section 3 Maccabi 0-1-28 defeated by East Croydon Kilsyth 6-7-57

Daniel Brami/ Stephen Kleid 3-6 7-6 3-10
Evgeni Grishin/ Jonathan Krywicki 3-6 3-6
Daniel Brami 1-8
Evgeni Grishin 3-8
Stephen Kleid 7-9
Jonathan Krywicki 1-8

Dan and Stephens struggled to find their rhythm early but recovered in the second set to force a deciding tie breaker, eventually going down 3-10.

Newly paired Evgeni and Jonny, faced  some strong resistance there were some close games but ther pair eventually fell 3-6 3-6.

In singles, Dan was simply outclassed by a very strong opponent. While there were a few close games, it was mostly one-way traffic, with the scoreline ending 1–8.

Stephen, returning from some time off, was locked in a battle against an opponent equally determined to walk away with the win in what was our match of the day. It came down to the wire, with Stephen having the opportunity to serve it out at 7-6. Unfortunately, his opponent rallied to break and close out the match 9-7

In his first pennant match this season, Evgeni faced a tough opponent with a great serve, which ultimately made the difference. Although he more than matched his opponent in rallies, he went down 3-8 and is determined to come back stronger next time.

 

Jonny faced a strong opponent this week that did not give an inch and was just too good with the scoreline ending 1-8.

 -  Daniel Brami