The 2026 Sale Tennis Club tournament attracted elite talent from across Victoria and interstate, with standout Gippsland players securing several impressive results on their home courts.
Local star Jess Board, the defending women’s open singles champion, put on a clinic to retain her crown, outclassing Bairnsdale’s Bella Prince in a dominant 6-1, 6-0 final. Board’s stellar form comes as no surprise, with the local product currently refining her game while studying and playing for Abilene Christian University in Texas.
In the men’s open singles, second seed Nathan Rato claimed ultimate glory, dethroning defending champion James Elia in a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 straight sets victory. Rato capped off a brilliant weekend by combining with John Ascar to lift the open doubles trophy, defeating the formidable duo of Aarya Khore and Jack Bassett.
The women’s open doubles title went to Danniella Yu and Candice Bramwell, who proved too strong for Victoria Yu and Olivia Frank.
Gippsland’s regional talent was on full display throughout the lower tiers and junior ranks, highlighted by Moe Tennis Club’s Jarred Cake claiming the men’s open tier two singles crown, while Bairnsdale’s Anna Banson secured the under 16 girls singles championship.
Other junior champions to stand on the podium included:
– Under 16 boys singles: Eddie Lin
– Under 16 girls doubles: Milla Lazzaro and Juliet McGinty (Sale)
– Under 14 boys singles: Lucas Mikkelsen
– Under 14 girls singles: Elisha Ecimovic
– Under 12 boys doubles: Lawrence Zhang and Jesse Yang
– Under 12 and under 10 Girls Singles: Charlotte Gorey
– Under 10 boys singles: Ernest Liu
One of the major highlights of the weekend was the fast-paced “1 Point Slam,” which featured a maximum capacity draw of 64 players. Undeterred by a light drizzle, the competitors put on an entertaining show for a large, enthusiastic crowd. In a dramatic finish, former Sale Tennis Club champion Sen Goold outlasted Chris Corraluzzo to take home
the title.
