18 December 2024 | Tennis Victoria

Victorian future stars have taken home National titles at the December Showdown in Bendigo, with Ymerali Ibriami claiming 16/u boys’ honours, and Ava Beck taking out the 18/u category.

For Ibriami, triumph in the 16/u Australian Open Championships earns a wildcard entry into the Australia Open 2025 Junior Championships.

Beck was also granted a qualifying wildcard into an Australian Pro Tour tournament.

Ibriami took out the boys’ event with conviction, losing an average of just four games per match over the week. In securing an entry to the Australian Open 2025 boys’ tournament, Ibriami saw the opportunity to test his game against the best junior players in the world.

“It would mean a lot for the experience. It would help my game a lot to see what’s out there in the world,” he commented during his winning campaign.

“It would definitely give me a big confidence boost to play in front of the Aussie fans and to really show the world who I am.”

Australian 16/u champions: Ymerali Ibriami (left)

Meanwhile, Ava Beck has continued her sensational season, triumphing in the 18/u tournament. The 2022 14/u finalist defeated her doubles partner Koharu Nishikawa 6-1 1-6 6-4 in the final, prevailing in all six of her group stage and knockout matches.

The 16-year-old, who has soared up the ITF rankings in 2024, can now add the national title to her already impressive resume. Now world No.101, Beck has won three ITF titles this season and was selected to represent Australia in the junior Billie Jean King Cup team.

“One of the highlights of my season was representing Australia in Kazakhstan and Turkey. Playing against the best girls around the world was such a great experience and such a good learning experience,” she said. “It was an honour being a part of the team, just three girls being selected. It was such an honour to represent Australia.”

Beck won Junior Female Athlete of the Year at the Tennis Victoria Player Awards earlier this year and was nominated for Junior Female Athlete of the Year at the Australian Tennis Awards last week.

Full list of Victorian results:

Men’s Single Progress Series Masters:

2nd Joshua Charlton (VIC)

3rd/4th Chase Ferguson (VIC)

Women’s Single Progress Series Masters:

3rd/4th Alana Parnaby (VIC)

3rd/4th Belle Thompson (VIC)

Men’s Doubles Progress Series Masters:

1st Joshua Charlton (VIC) & Matthew Hulme (QLD)

2nd Chase Ferguson (VIC) & Scott Jones (WA)

3rd/4th Timmy Karpinski (VIC) & Sean van Rensburg (SA)

3rd/4th Stefan Bianchet (SA) & Luca Connaughton (VIC)

Women’s Doubles Progress Series Masters:

1st Lily Taylor (QLD) & Belle Thompson (VIC)

2nd Alan Parnaby (VIC) & Alicia Smith (QLD)

3rd/4th Scarlett Dattoli (VIC) & Alice Stevens (WA)

3rd/4th Caitlin Baker (SA) & Jemma Carbis (VIC)

Boys 16/u Singles:

1st Ymerali Ibraimi (VIC)

2nd Evan Vasiliadis (VIC)

Girls 18/u Singles:

1st Ava Beck (VIC)

2nd Koharu Nishikawa (VIC)

3rd/4th Bridget Mihulka (VIC)

Boys 16/u Doubles:

1st Filip Fantasia (SA) & Ymerali Ibraimi (VIC)

3rd/4th Cooper Pearson (VIC) & Evan Vasiliadis (VIC)

3rd/4th Ren ASai 9VIC) & Jacquyn Colalancia (SA)

Boys 18/u doubles:

2nd Baxter Errey (VIC) & Thomas Ranson (VIC)

3rd/4th Finley Dyer (NSW) & Diordan Macababbad (VIC)

Girls 16/u doubles:

3rd/4th Katherine Harrison (VIC) & Acalia Shamim (QLD)

Girls 18/u doubles:

1st Ava Beck (VIC) & Koharu Nishikawa (VIC)

2nd Audrey Aulia (NSW) & Gabrielle Villegas (VIC)

3rd/4th Isabella Crossman (VIC) & Kristina Tai (SA)