LIKE grandfather, like grandson.
Mark Elliman won the Sale Tennis Club Men’s Singles Championship on Sunday November 27, the same award won by his grandfather, the late Stan Elliman, in the 1950s.
Mark, 40, who works as a property valuer and licensed real estate agent with his father John at John Elliman Real Estate, had his name etched on the W. F. McLoghlin Trophy, just as Stan did from 1953 to 1956, which Mark said was the best part about winning.
“(Being) on the same honour board as my grandfather is very special,” Mark said.
The moment was also an opportunity for John to write a touching tribute to his father, who died in 2005.
“Stan won the Sale Tennis Club Men’s Singles Championship four years running from 1953-1956,” John wrote.
“He was regarded as the best player in the district and throughout Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley. The slice on his backhand was often unplayable.
“He was so highly regarded that he caught the eye of Harry Hopman, who was in charge of the Davis Cup Squad at the time. Harry came to Sale to discuss the possibility of Stan playing on the Satellite circuit in Melbourne and also to hit up in practice with the Davis Cup team members.
“He declined as he didn’t want to leave Sale.”
Sale Tennis Club president, Robin Lowe, said it was exciting to see familiar family names coming through the club.
“It’s nice when you can see that family history on the walls,” he said.
Mark went up against 2021 Open Men’s semi-finalist Marrien Van Den Heuvel for his big match winning in straight sets, despite pulling a gluteal muscle.
“I twinged it at the start,” Mark said. “But I got through it. Now I’m on a slow recovery.
“It’s a nice feeling to win (the Championship). I never thought it would happen. There’s always been one player better than me.
“Next year will see a very strong field, with a couple of returning champions possibly coming back and young gun Sen Gould returning from Japan, so the pressure will be on.”
Lowe said it wasn’t typical for tennis players to injure a glute muscle during a match, but Mark triumphed at the end.
“(Mark) was looking to shorten the points a lot. He did lots of really good serves. And it worked.”
Mark said his opponents would describe his tennis game as “annoyingly consistent”, with a good forehand.
“I struggle against the bigger hitters. People used to say they get frustrated playing against me, because I never missed.”
Mark said his grandfather Stan was a very good grass court player.
“He just played a really pure game that was nice to watch,” Mark said.
