Three of seven Maccabi Tennis Club Pennant teams have qualified for finals. The Maccabi Grade 11 and Grade 12 teams have one more match remaining in their season.

The Grade 5 team of Asaf Nagar, Assaf Drori, Joel Fredman, Jordan Jaffe, Jonny Henquin, Marty Schwarz, Daniel Sneider, Gilad Nagar and Steven Kleytman finished in 3rd position on the ladder and will play away against Beaumaris in the semi final.

The Grade 7 team of Robert Minc, Steven Gostin, Geoff Rosenberger, Saul Muscatel, Ryan Sharp, Damon Flicker and Jan Tenenberg finished on top of the ladder and will host Kings Park in the semi final.

The Grade 10 team of Henry Orner, Ben Pollak, Sebastian Raboy, Daniel Goodrich, Ashley Raboy and Jack Stock finished in 4th position on the ladder and will play away against Monash University in the semi final.

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.

UPDATE: The Maccabi Tennis Interstate Challenge has been postponed to accommodate a request from the NSW team

Tennis Victoria Winter Pennant

Grade 5 Section 3 Maccabi 0-1-25 washed out against Drouin 3-4-31

Jordan Jaffe/ Jonny Henquin 4-6 6-2 3-10
Gilad Nagar/ Steven Kleytman 3-6 1-6
Jordan Jaffe
Jonny Henquin
Gilad Nagar 7-3
Steven Kleytman 4-8

Grade 7 Section 4 Maccabi 6-8-59 defeated MCC Glen Iris 0-0-37

Rob Minc/ Damon Flicker 6-1 7-6
Geoff Rosenberger/ Steve Gostin 7-6 6-2
Rob Minc 8-6
Geoff Rosenberger 8-6
Damon Flicker 8-3
Steve Gostin 9-7

The grade 7 team had a comprehsenvise win again the top team today - Glen Iris/MCC 6-0! That has meant that the team has ended up on top of the ladder and in good form leading into finals next week. While the whole team played well, special mention to Rob Minc who beat the number one player, who has been undefeated for the whole season. Rob has found some form at the right right time of the season! Onwards and upwards for the finals.

- Geoff Rosenberger

Grade 8 Section 3 Maccabi 1-1-32 defeated by Patterson Lakes 5-7-51

Marcus Frajman/ Luka Federman 6-7 5-7
Arvid Kreimer/ Darion Pohl 3-6 3-6
Marcus Frajman 3-8
Luka Federman 3-8
Arvid Kreimer 8-1
Darion Pohl 1-8

A tough way to end the season. We were 4th, hosting 5th on the ladder. We need to win or draw to hold our spot for finals. Two competitive doubles matches went against us. Darion and Arvid played together for the first time. Marcus and Luka fought hard from being down 4-1 in both sets but couldn't quite take their chances. The four singles matches were relatively one sided and Arvid played well to win our only rubber of the day. Overall, we had a good season and blooded several new or returning players.

- Marcus Frajman

Grade 8 Section 3 Maccabi 0-0-17 defeated by Doveton 6-8-56

Steve Bendel/ Ethan Kleiman 3-6 3-6
Nathan Rapoport/ Zvi Schweitzer 2-6 2-6
Steve Bendel 5-8
Nathan Rapoport 1-8
Ethan Kleiman 1-8
Zvi Schweitzer 0-6 0-6 (Forfeit)

Took the Westall Road extension and made our way out to Doveton (nice place to visit but wouldn’t want to live there…..)

In a previous era not that long ago - we could’ve been playing kids old enough to be Adam Needleman’s grandchildren.

Played in front of enthusiastic parents that clapped and cheered every time their kids hit winning shots (which incidentally was quite regularly).

Made a mental note that next time we play this team at home I’m gonna hire a couple of busses and get the good folk from Montefiore to come along and cheer us on !!

Love the work ethic and commitment of Nathan Rapoport.

Love the stories of Zvi Schweitzer (there is now nothing I don’t know about him and his dad).

Unfortunately was not meant to be and the Doveton kids just too good.

 - Steve Bendel

Grade 10 Section 4 Maccabi 0-1-15 washed out against Drouin 3-4-32

Daniel Goodrich/ Ben Pollak 1-6 0-6
Sebastian Raboy/ Ash Raboy 7-5 1-6 6-10
Daniel Goodrich 1-8
Ben Pollak
Sebastian Raboy 5-1
Ash Raboy

It’s not about being better than someone else. It’s about being better than you were the day before.”

With finals just around the corner, Team Maccabi hit the road for a critical match against the formidable Drouin TC. Spirits were high as we carpooled through the winding roads, with Ashley Raboy at the wheel and the squad loaded with rackets, grit, and a bit of nervous anticipation.

But nothing could quite prepare us for what awaited: swirling wind, wet mod grass, freezing cold, and Drouin’s signature acid rain! It was going to be a battle — not just against the opposition, but against the elements.

Facing Drouin’s top pair, who boasted sky-high UTR ratings, Daniel and Ben fought hard but were overpowered by relentless baseline precision. A match marred by gusts and rain interruptions — Daniel likened it to a “storm world sequel”. Despite the scoreline, their composure and persistence never wavered.

Daniel: “A tough challenge. Had chances to make it closer but just couldn’t convert. Drouin: Part Two – The Storm Strikes Again.”

This one was a thriller. Ashley and Sebastian came out swinging, snatching the first set 7-5 in a gutsy display. But as the wind picked up and the courts grew slick, momentum shifted. They battled through the chaos but just fell short in a tense match tiebreak. Gritty effort in wild conditions!

Back on court against a top-tier opponent, Daniel showed flashes of brilliance and had game points at 4-1, 5-1, and 6-1 down. But converting those in Drouin’s stormy cauldron proved too tricky. A challenging day but full of fight.

Sebastian was a man on a mission. Up 5-1 against Tom (who cheekily rushed straight into singles after doubles), Seb adapted better in the wet, smashing winners and using heavy topspin to dominate — until hail and rain halted play. A potential win washed away.

It wasn’t just our team fighting the elements — Gilad and Jordan from Maccabi’s other squad also battled through identical conditions at Drouin. Multiple courts saw stop-start action as the rain and wind played havoc across the venue.

Despite the official scoreline, the Raboys nearly flipped the doubles, and Sebastian looked primed for a singles win. This team isn’t done yet.

We just clung onto 4th place on the ladder — enough to punch our ticket into the FINALS!
With 131 points, Maccabi edges ahead of Mentone and Coatesville.

Bring on the finals. Rain or shine — we fight.

- Ash Raboy

Grade 11 Section 2 Maccabi 2-4-38 defeated by East Croydon Kilsyth 4-4-43

Jesse Stowe-Lindner/ Jacob Nathan 0-6 6-2 4-10
Russell Golden/ Blake Golden 6-2 6-2
Jesse Stowe-Lindner 2-8
Russell Golden 3-8
Blake Golden 7-9
Jacob Nathan 8-6

Grade 12 Section 3 Maccabi 6-8-59 defeated Yarra Glen 0-0-33

Stephen Gorenstein/ Daniel Brami 6-2 7-6
Stephen Kleid/ Evgeni Grishin 6-3 7-6
Stephen Gorenstein 8-1
Daniel Brami 8-5
Stephen Kleid 9-7
Evgeni Grishin 8-3

Maccabi Grade 12 came into their home clash against Yarra Glen determined to secure a strong result and they delivered in style, with a dominant performance that exceeded expectations.

Dan and Stephen G started their doubles pairing with immediate impact, racing through the first set 6-2. Their opponents mounted a challenge in the second, pushing Stephen who was struggling on serve, but the Maccabi pair held firm to force a tiebreak. With Dan stepping up under pressure to serve it out for a straight-sets win.

On the neighbouring court, Evgeni and Stephen K combined impressively in their first outing as a duo. They clicked quickly, taking the opening set 6-3. The second set was a tougher battle, with Yarra Glen pushing them to a tiebreak, but the Maccabi team held their nerve to secure another straight-sets victory.

In the singles, Stephen G faced a familiar opponent he had narrowly lost to only weeks earlier. This time, his serve and forehand were firing, and he dispatched his rival ruthlessly 8-1.

Dan faced a fiery opponent with a powerful serve, and for much of the match it was a battle of holds. At 5-5, Dan broke through, and with his opponent’s frustration boiling over into outbursts and racquet abuse, Dan kept composed to close out an 8-5 win.

Stephen K’s singles match was a close one against a determined opponent who wanted the win just as much as he did.  But Stephen showed resilience in the big moments, especially under pressure, and edged out a hard fought 9-7 victory.

Evgeni rounded out the day in fine form. Racing to a 6-1 lead, he proved too strong and consistent, despite his opponent managing to claw back a couple of games. Evgeni sealed an impressive 8-3 win, his first singles pennant victory of the season. Congratulations, Evgeni!

 -  Daniel Brami