Forget Sabalenka, Djokovic and the Rod Laver Arena; tennis is heating up on our district courts once more.
All eyes may be on the Australian Open at the moment, but closer to home Shepparton District Tennis Association is back serving up the heat.
Following a month long break, the association sprung to life again on Friday with a pair of pulsating fixtures that closed the gap between the first and last-ranked sides in the A1 division.
Top side Shepparton North was trumped 5-45 to 4-36 by fifth placed Lemnos, reducing its lead at the head of the table to four points.
Julie McClelland was the catalyst for Lemnos, starring in three of her club’s winning rubbers, while Peter Jeffery, Wendy McHugh and Jennifer Smith also proved crucial throughout the evening.
Meanwhile, McEwen Reserve Gold continued its charge towards pole position on Friday night.
Facing Central Park, Gold triumphed 5-33 to 1-16 in a shortened match that had three of the total nine rubbers unplayed.
And in the final game of the round, Karramomus moved within four points of McEwen Reserve Red by beating it 6-46 to 3-32 on Saturday.
Four rounds remain in the home and away season before finals kick off in late February.
