Illness and injury cost team

By Paul Pickering
ANOTHER dramatic build-up left Springvale North exposed in its singles clash at Beaumaris Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday.
Plagued by injury and illness in recent weeks, Springvale North’s side was again finalised at the last minute, and the instability showed in a disappointing loss three rubbers to one.
In his debut with the club, former Dingley player Anthony DiDomenico was asked to lead off against Beaumaris’ Grant O’Callaghan.
DiDomenico, suffering from the same virus as team-mate Zoran Josic, was soundly beaten 4-6 2-6.
Josic battled admirably in a tough first set, losing it in a tie-break.
He was spent in the second and failed to take a game from opponent Chris Browne.
When all seemed lost, Springvale North number one Stephen Fotakis stepped up to provide a hint of life.
Fotakis, who has barely trained over the past two months because of a knee injury, stunned Beaumaris Lawn’s Edward Brophy in a clinical 6-3 6-2 victory.
That left Springvale North a glimmer of hope in the final rubber, with Trent Cobb needing to record a dominant straight sets win to secure the points.
Cobb, who had claimed the under 18 Victorian Junior Claycourt Championship during the week, pushed opponent Kai Ulrik to a tie-break in the first set before going on to lose 6-7 2-6.
Springvale North coach Stephen Sruk was impressed by the class of Fotakis and the guts of Josic, but lamented another hampered preparation.
“We pride ourselves on being a great singles team, but we weren’t good enough on the day,” he said.
“Hopefully we can have a full quota of players available and fit and healthy this week.”
Sruk’s charges are now sitting in equal fourth on the Section One ladder ahead of Saturday’s home doubles tie against second-placed Gracedale Park.