'I woke up feeling extra nervous': Victorian Pennant State Grade Final

(Tennis Victoria/Instagram)

For the third straight year since its return in 2023, another Victorian State Grade Pennant season is done and dusted.

And, once again, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club has defended its 2024 titles in both the men's and women's State Grade competitions. 

For the men's, this was Kooyong's second straight pennant flag in state grade and for the women's, their third.

As Australia's largest inter-club league and the premier competition in Victoria, Victorian Pennant 2025 featured 419 teams across 135 tennis clubs in its 142nd year running.

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The 2025 season featured rising stars, including Evan Vasiliades, son of former professional Greek tennis player Taso, and familiar names such as David Bidmeade, Lewis Miles and Chanchai Sookton-Eng.

There were carefully orchestrated teams like Beaumaris' star-studded women's line-up, featuring last year's Rising Star winner Ruby Ward alongside experienced players Savannah James, Georgiana Ruhrig, Eunsae Shin and Serena Lee.

We also had German imports (Emilia Richter), American imports (Amanda McVay) and everything in between. 

And, in a win for diversity and inclusion, Essendon Tennis Club hosted the inaugural Pride Round back in June as part of the Pennant season.

But, on a rain-interrupted day, it all came down to Saturday's State Grade final, hosted at Kooyong, the spiritual home of tennis in Australia.

In an incredible day of tennis, culminating in a nail-biting 8.30pm finish on a chilly winter's evening, the women's premiership came down to the wire, with Louise Field sealing it for Kooyong in the final singles rubber of the day against a valiant Serena Lee from Beaumaris Tennis Club. 

Speaking to The First Serve post-match, Kooyong's team captain, Jasmin Starr, was "riding a high" following Field's gutsy title-sealing win.

"We were sort of worried towards the end. It was really close. But we had faith in Lou (Louise Field), she really dug in there," she said, beaming.

The day was set up for Kooyong by winning both doubles matches, which Starr knew was crucial given the strength of Beaumaris' singles line-up.

"It's always really good to get up in the doubles to get that 2-0 start, as I thought the singles would be very tough," she explained.

"I remember looking through Match Centre through our prior matches and who played who so I had an idea how some of the matches might go."

Finishing three hours earlier, the men's competition was also a tight affair, with Kooyong taking out 2023 champions, Fawkner, in an entertaining day.

Playing in his 24th Pennant season, Kooyong's captain, David Bidmeade, was elated.

"It feels amazing. It was such a tight day, such a great battle. We knew it was gonna be 50-50 all the way through," he told The First Serve. "But to come through and go back-to-back... They’re not easy to win, these pennants, and it's a really special feeling."

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Bidmeade added that playing long-time rivals, Fawkner elevated the emotions and the tension, saying it was "fitting" to play them in the final.

"There is a rivalry there. The last few years have been really tight with them," he said. "(There was a) huge crowd here; we had hundreds of people down here. They had a really good supporter base. It really adds to the occasion, adds to the day. It probably adds to the nerves, but we have a lot of passion, and it means a lot to both clubs."

Kooyong's No.1, Tom Patton, was fired up before he even got out of bed. 

"I woke up this morning feeling extra nervous 'cause I wanted to perform. I wanted to beat these guys. We played them a few times, and they got us in tight ones, and we got them as well," he mentioned to The First Serve.

"We knew at the end of the day it was going to be 50-50, especially in the final where it's all on the line, so it was awesome that the boys could come away with it today."

Bidmeade pointed to some key matches that went Kooyong's way, which helped set up the victory.

"Going into the day, we knew we had to at least split the doubles. There were a few decisive singles matches too," he said.

"Tommy Patton at No.1 to win (7)6 and (7)6 against Chanchai (Sookton-Eng) was just massive. Luca Connaghton at No.4 winning a set, despite losing in an epic super tiebreak, really helped us, and Cooper White played flawless tennis to bring it home."

Kooyong also featured in the Grade 1 Men's and Women's finals, with the men's team getting up over Eildon Park and the women's team narrowly defeated by Royal South Yarra.

The day was livestreamed via My Sport Live with a special live edition of the State Grade Show hosted by Peter Mercato and Emily Smith with commentary courtesy of Nelson Parker and Reza Tempsett from Get Set Tennis, as well as Val Febbo, Hannah Kuhar and Ally Kirkwood.

If Saturday's State Grade final is anything to go by, intra-club tennis is in good shape, with talented juniors and local level players providing a strong playing field and a greater amount of opportunity all the way down the grades.

Results:

State Grade Men – Kooyong Lawn 3-7-62 def. Fawkner 2-3-42

State Grade Women – Kooyong Lawn 4-6-64 def. Beaumaris Lawn 2-6-60

Grade 1 Men – Kooyong Lawn 3-7-49 def. Eildon Park 1-1-27

Grade 1 Women– Royal South Yarra 4-5-46 def. Kooyong Lawn 2-7-58

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