ahm NPL Round 7 Recap: The Final Round

Pro Tour Finals Are Now Set

The stage is set, the brackets are locked, and finals are ready to deliver. Across Australia, the Outback have secured the number one seed after edging the Opals in a genuine thriller, while the Heat remain right on their heels in second place. In Victoria, the Adders continue their remarkable run at the top of the ladder, still undefeated since the mid-season reshuffle. And while the Opals may not have claimed top spot, their championship pedigree makes them one of the most dangerous teams heading into finals. This is shaping up to be an elite finish to the season.

Roos Stunned Late

The Roos looked in control for most of the tie, leading both the men’s and women’s singles matches against the Tide by 8-2 and 8-1 respectively — with either result enough to finish the job. But Ethan Butson and Ayesha Dang had other ideas. The Tide pair produced a stunning comeback, turning the match on its head before sealing the mixed and locking in a top-two finish in Victoria. It was a bitter result for Captain Sahil and his Roos, who now head into the wildcard playoffs with everything still to play for.

Finals Matches That Matter

There are qualifying finals, and then there are matches like these. Heat vs Adders is already a mouth-watering clash, with Matt/Liam set to battle Fogl/Lavers and Spencer/Turulja facing “The Kats.” But the headline act might just be Opals vs Outback. These two teams do not like each other, and their final Queensland clash was already packed with fire and edge. Now they’ll do it all again on the biggest stage, with the world watching and no shortage of spice. Expect fireworks — and plenty of chirping from Nick Mal.

Tide and Stingers Advance

Both the Tide and the Stingers did enough to avoid the wildcard playoff and book their place in Melbourne. Kyle’s Stingers boast one of the league’s standout players in Ryan Henry, but the question remains whether their women can lift to the same level when it matters most. Meanwhile, Ayesha Dang’s Tide have been steady all season, but whether they have the firepower to trouble teams like the Heat or Outback is still one of the great unknowns. Finals will tell the story.

Losers Head Home

For the Brumbies, 29ers and Comets, the season is over. It was a campaign the Brumbies and 29ers will want to put behind them quickly, with both sides never quite finding their rhythm despite plenty of talent on paper. The biggest shock came from the Comets, who were sitting second in the NSW conference heading into Round 7 before dropping both matches on the day and crashing out. In a season full of twists, theirs may have been the harshest.

Dinkers Do It Hard Way

Talk about the long road. The Dinkers looked in serious trouble after falling to the Stingers and staring down a 3-1 deficit, but Brian Tran’s side dug deep when it mattered most. The mixed pair scraped home 22-20 to claim a vital extra point, turning the tie into a 2-3 loss that still proved enough to book their ticket to Melbourne and eliminate the Comets. The only concern for Captain Tran is an injury to Nancy Ferguson, who will be closely watched heading into finals. And a special congratulations to Kathleen Voon on her Pro Tour debut.

Division 2 Wrap

VIC

The 29ers were pushed hard by Clare Butler’s Roos but ultimately proved too strong to claim the VIC State Cup. Ryan Lee and his squad now head into finals as the country’s number two seed, carrying real momentum and a tennis-heavy foundation that makes them a formidable unit. Still, the Roos shouldn’t be overlooked — Butler and Le-Vo bring real firepower, and Dan Markworth has a strong case for Most Improved Player in the NPL.

QLD

Grace Sorbello and her Burras won a thriller over the Outback to claim Queensland’s inaugural Division 2 State Teams Cup. Locked at 2-2 heading into the mixed, Sorbello and young gun Janakimaran finished the job in style to secure the win. Both teams head into finals with confidence, though the Outback will be without Thanh Huynh and Leona Huynh, who are relocating their family to Vietnam. We wish them all the very best.

NSW

Ryan Morris and his Stingers claimed the NSW Division 2 State Cup in a strong showing. The Morris-Pinter partnership extended its men’s doubles winning streak to five straight, underlining just how hard they are to beat. The Comets were courageous without Manzano and Burton, but lacked the firepower to challenge Morris and his side. The Stingers now face NZ powerhouse the Taika in a qualifying final, while the Comets meet the Tuatara. Keep an eye on Monique Burton too — she’s a star in the making.