Cranbourne’s Jaide Collins prepares to hit a backhand during her first-round victory over Narre Warren’s Destanee Aiava in the girls’ 12-year-oldBy Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills rising tennis star Dejan Erakovic led the local charge at this week’s second annual Casey Junior Masters.
Sixth-seeded Erakovic lost 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Daniel Sutton in the final of the boys’ 16-year-old singles before joining forces with Upper Beaconsfield’s Ben Anderson to win the doubles.
Erakovic was not originally playing doubles, but formed a last-minute pairing with Anderson when the latter’s initial partner Jordan Cowling pulled out due to a dislocated left shoulder.
They swept through the tournament without losing a set.
Lysterfield sixth seed Caleb Boland and Doveton eighth seed Miles Lita also enjoyed impressive tournaments, recording semi-final and quarter-final results respectively in the 12-year-old boys’ singles.
Boland made the doubles final in the same age group, with Lita bowing out in the semi-finals.
Hampton Park’s Chevaunne Keleher reached the semi-finals of the girls’ 14-year-old doubles with Tayla Hart.
Casey Tennis Centre members James Sheppard and Zac Osborne also flew the local flag.
Eventual winner Andrej Lukic defeated Sheppard 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 in a nail-biting semi-final, while Osborne made the consolation final of the boys’ 12-year-old singles.
Casey Fields and Casey tennis centres hosted the four-day tournament, with finals played on Monday and Tuesday.
Tournament co-director Paul Kleverlaan was pleased with the standard of play at the competition.
“I was pretty impressed with the talent coming through in the 12s and 14s,” he said.
“I think last year there was a bit more depth, but the top end was still very good.
“Overall it went really well and the weather was kind to us and wasn’t windy as usual.”
Meanwhile, Kleverlaan battled his way through to the semi-finals of the men’s 35-and-over singles at last week’s Australian Seniors Championships in Adelaide.
The second-seeded Cranbourne East veteran outlasted Pakenham Tennis Club coach Paul Osborne 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in the second round before losing to title victor Brett Patten.
