FINALS match-ups have been confirmed for Saturday’s conclusion to the Victorian Grasscourt Championships at Mildura Lawn Tennis Club.
With $25,000 in prizemoney up for grabs on the final day, it’s a chance for players to earn a title before heading into next week’s Mildura International Tennis Pro Tour.
Women’s top seed Alicia Smith is set to face third seed Belle Thompson in their final, while men’s second seed Josh Charlton and fifth seed Matthew Hulme will go head to head.
Both Smith and Thompson had to fight their way back from losing the opening set of their respective semi-finals, but managed to so in style.
Emerging 18-year-old fourth seed Sarah Rokusek put herself in a strong position to beat Smith after taking the opening stanza, but the 28-year-old from Tamworth conceded just one game in the following sets, taking home the win 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 in a two-and-a-half hour contest.
New Zealander Monique Barry also had the stronger start in her match-up with Thompson as the number two seed was in control after the first set, however the Victorian also hit her straps after that point to record a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Double partners Charlton and Hulme will face each other in a final for the second time in six months, after also going head to head in September for the 2024 Northern Territory Open Championships.
Charlton, semi-finalist at the M15 Bali tour event in December, had his hands full against Queenslander Dane Sweeny early before rocketing away in the final set to 7-5, 6-0.
Hulme had a two-hour arm wrestle with Scott Jones from WA, being forced into a tie-break for the second set but ultimately winning 6-3, 7-6.
Singles and doubles finals will take place on Saturday.
Qualifying rounds for the Mildura International begin on Sunday, with the main draw starting Tuesday.
