Gayle Makes Historic Hits in the Women’s State League Tennis Championships

Perth Modern School student Gayle Leong, 15, has made history as part of the youngest average aged team to win the Women’s State League tennis competition.

Gayle started playing tennis at the age of seven and committed to training and competing at the age of nine. With her small stature she found “other team sports were not as suited however with tennis it is based on your individual performance and skill.”

The Women’s State Leagues tennis competition is held over a number of months and has no age limit therefore the girls found themselves against opponents of various ages throughout the season.

The team was comprised of members from Gayle’s local Club, Hensman Park Tennis Club in South Perth.

She was surprised with the win as it was the first time Hensman had won one in 37 years.

Gayle said, “It felt pretty special knowing we had made history as the youngest team to win.”

Earlier in the day, she had also captained the Junior Girls State League team to victory in the Casey Cup which included fellow Perth Modern teammate Jaun Yum, 13.

“For the Junior State League, my team and I played consistently well throughout the season, we were almost undefeated,” she said.

Gayle trains six times per week as well as attending the gym several times before school and said her aim is to attend College in America on a tennis scholarship, with the goal that one day her tennis path might turn professional.