The 2025 Sale Tennis Club Championships consisted of 18 events, ranging from 10 & Under singles and doubles through to Open Men’s and Women’s singles and doubles and mixed events.
Gippsland’s longest continuously running Club Championships was almost completed on Sunday, November 23. In what amounted to a “perfect storm” not only was the weather constantly threatening but SP Ausnet chose that day to turn off the electricity. So players were potentially cold, wet and in the dark. What else could go wrong?
After heavy rain overnight, by 8:00am 12 of our 14 courts were good for play. Unfortunately just before play was scheduled to commence at 9:00 am the heavens opened up and sent the players that were warming up scurrying back to the clubhouse for shelter. This was the first of several rain delays that made the tournament organiser's job increasingly more difficult.
The action finally got under way after 10:30 am, in between showers, as the courts were made playable by the liberal use of squeegee rollers by a small but dedicated army of volunteers. The extended rain breaks that resulted in a very late finish did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the nearly 70 players.
There were 4 Honour Board events being contested but unfortunately only 2 were able to be completed on the day with 2 more to played out in the coming weeks.
In the Open Women’s Singles final Amber Archer played rising junior Bella Prince. It was a highly competitive match played in great spirit. Amber won the first set 6-5 before Bella struck back to take the second 5-6 and force a super tie break. Amber won the super tie 10-4 to win her first Open Women’s Championship and a place on the Sharpe Cup. Amber has been on the local tennis scene since her early junior years and continues to improve with each season, with her hard work and attacking style really paying dividends. Bella has also been working very hard and improving with every match. She is a great example to other teens of getting the best out of every match and every practice session so Amber may not have it all her own way in future years!
In the Open Men’s Singles we had another new champion, Campbell Scott. With the lights on and rain threatening to again delay play, Campbell battled it out with Cordell Vollemaere. Cordell won the first set before Campbell steadied to take the second with some exceptional stroke play form both players keeping the crowd in awe. A spot on the Honour Board and the W F McLoghlin Trophy was on the line as they entered the super tiebreaker. Campbell took an early lead before Cordell clawed his way back to even. However given the opportunity to serve at 9-8 Campbell closed it out with an “all or nothing second serve” to clinch the Championship.
This is the first time in living memory where both Open events have been decided in a super tie. The tennis could not have been more even or entertaining.
There are 6 events that could not be competed on the day given the rain delays and these will be completed over the coming weeks.
Completed results were:
Event Event Winner Runner Up
Open Women’s Singles Amber Archer Bella Prince
Open Men’s Singles Campbell Scott Cordell Vollemaere
Men’s Doubles Incomplete
Mixed Doubles Incomplete
Graded Men’s Singles Incomplete
Family Doubles A Kalen Szarek Ollie Brayshaw
Luke Szarek Luke Brayshaw
Family Doubles B Hayden Munckton Harry Black
Tim Munckton James Black
18 & U Girls Singles Incomplete
18 & U Boys Singles Incomplete
16 & U Girls Singles Ebony Running Lucy Dray
16 & U Boys Singles Jay Davies Judah Levchenko
16 & Under Doubles Lucas Zhang Isaac Lazzaro
Lawrence Zhang Kalen Szarek
14 & Under Singles Lucas Zhang Isaac Lazzaro
14 & Under Doubles Incomplete
12 & Under Singles Lawrence Zhang Isaac Lazzaro
12 & Under Doubles Zac Ingram Ollie Brayshaw
Lawrence Zhang Seb Jones
10 & Under Singles Hayden Munckton Ollie Brayshaw
10 & Under Doubles Thomas Beechey Hayden Munckton
Harry Black Isla Bennett
For further details please contact Robin Lowe on 0418 514 788