Tennis West State League: Australian great Alicia Molik to captain Cottesloe this season

Former world number eight and Australian tennis great Alicia Molik will be the headline act when the Tennis West State League roars into its new season this weekend.

Molik, an Olympic bronze medalist in Athens and a quarter-finalist at the 2005 Australian Open, is set to captain Cottesloe upon their return to the women’s state league when they take on 2024 runners-up Alexander Park on Saturday.

After playing for Cottesloe’s Division One side last season, Molik will lead a squad including Jessie and Ruby Cullie, rising star Elena Manoj and former Hensman Park player Ksenjia Vujacic.

Hensman Park once again loom as the favourites in the women’s draw after dropping just one match all of last season en route to another title, with captain Anja Dokic once again on board to spearhead their championship defence.

The South Perth outfit host Royal Kings Park on Friday night, while Dalkeith and Peppermint Grove round out the opening slate of women’s fixtures, with both sides featuring a number of new faces in their squad this season.

It is a similar story in the men’s competition, with last year’s champions Cottesloe reloading for another run at the title, bringing back skipper and league most valuable player Will Hann and Ethan Dunn, Cameron Burton and Scott Webster.

Cottesloe host an Ashwin Sharma-led Alexander Park, who finished third last season, in their opening fixture of the season on Saturday.

Reigning runners-up Peppermint Grove will be out to go one better after falling at the final hurdle last season, with Tim Gray and Ethan Cook joining the returning Jayden Court, Sam Asheden and Sam Chapman.

They take on Royal Kings Park on Saturday in their opening fixture, with the men’s state league outfit returning to the big time after a year off.

UWA and Mt Lawley/Sorrento will open the men’s campaign on Friday night under lights, with the latter boasting rising junior star Jake Dembo for the upcoming season.

Every match of the 2024-25 Tennis West State League will be streamed live on Streamer.com.