Youngster Meg Cooke has taken out her first Benalla and District Women’s Singles Championship, becoming 2026’s number one local female tennis player.

The talented teen faced off against Swanpool’s Peta Kelly in front of a healthy crowd last Tuesday evening under the bright lights at Gardens Tennis Club. The match was hoped to be a gruelling contest with both women being renowned for their capability to sustain brutally long rallies, and rallies a plenty there was.

Cooke started the final brilliantly driving good weight through her shots, and her movement was dynamic and sure. She completely frustrated her hard hitting opponent, making almost no unforced errors. Relentless and ruthless in the opening set, Meg had Kelly rattled.

Cooke’s first set was described by tournament director, Michael Levy as, “a massive step forward in Cooke’s tennis progression,” adding, “it’s a sign of great maturity and a growing confidence in her own ability to beat a very good player in such a high quality match,” he said.

“To go to a final in front of her friends, family and peers and play that standard for an entire match, in a high pressure final like this, is very impressive.”

A second break of her opponent’s serve saw Cooke claim the all important first set 6-2, and while Kelly was playing well, she just couldn't find any openings against her younger opponent.

Peta needed to find a way to grab some offensive control of points, and did exactly that, as early in the second set the match began to swing her way through quality tennis.

Cooke’s level never slumped, in fact quite the opposite, as Kelly hit harder so did Cooke. Exchanges between the pair became more and more gruelling. Kelly’s game was continuing to peak and the match became an absolute battle, with almost every point a rally, many lasting over 20 shots back and forth.

Neither woman was being tentative or hesitant, hitting heavier, deeper and harder. The second set was of the highest quality, between two extremely evenly matched women.

Game scores went first to 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and then 6-6. The Gardens crowd were on the edge of their seats. At 7-7 the set was still anyone’s, and it grew more and more tense during the first to seven tie-break.

Points could only be won with clean winners or by forcing an error with great depth, placement or power. Tie break scores were matched point for point, going to 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and all the way to 9-9, amazing the crowd.

On edge at 9-9, Cooke made her own luck, as she bravely drove another forehand hard at her opponents side, but this one mattered more than all the others.

The forehand clipped the net cord hard and dropped just over the net and out of reach of an unlucky Kelly, meaning the up and coming junior was at championship point.

Kelly flew her colours high and played brilliantly, especially in the second set when she produced her absolute best run of hard hitting tennis. But on match point, exhausted, the pressure became too great for even the super fit Kelly.

Dragging a forehand down, the ball was caught by the net, giving the relieved Cooke her maiden number one female title and etching the youngster’s name into Benalla Tennis history.

Focus now will turn solely to the culmination of an extremely high quality Men’s Singles Championships. Some of the tournament’s highest quality matches are still coming up with the do or die semi-finals now scheduled.

The Open division sees the four top players qualified through to the premier finals section.

Open semi-finals match schedule

Benalla Gardens Hardcourts - Saturday, March 28, 4pm

Semi-final 1

Potentially one of the highest quality matches the Benalla Championship has ever seen, with tennis star and former Collingwood footballer, our new local and last year’s defending champion, Mark Beers, to face the sternest of tests against Argentinian youngster, and potentially this year’s Men’s Champion, Tommas Azar.

Semi-final 2 (to follow semi-final 1)

Last year’s runner up and local Gardens tennis coach, Michael Levy, takes on another Argentine. Lucas Ruiz is a hard hitting, clay court style South American player whose power and touch could certainly upset Levy’s ambition to return to the number one local ranking.

Four other men’s competitors have also progressed into a Plate Division play-off of their own. This year’s secondary division remains a great standard still, with more exciting match ups.

The group includes some very talented youngsters who will eventually hope to claim Open titles in the future years, and the more mature, extremely consistent, Richard Seccull hoping show them all that experience counts.

Plate division semi-finals

Semi-final 1

The growing potential of youngster Joe Boyd vs brilliant all-round sportsman, Lucas Hales.

Semi-final 2

Evergreen local Richard Seccull vs local Lawn tennis coach Patrick Neilson.

It will be in any likelihood another 12 months before we see this level of hardcourt tennis right at home, and any tennis lovers are welcome to come for a look.

For any information on match times, results, or for information on competing in Junior, Men’s or Women’s Benalla Championships in 2027, contact Benalla Gardens Tennis Club on 0433 520 809.

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