UoA athletes serving for success in the University Tennis League

University of Adelaide student-athletes are set to hit the courts this week in the University Tennis League (UTL), a UniSport Australia national intervarsity league. 2025 marks the second consecutive year that the UTL has taken place, and the league has already grown from nine teams last year to 14 teams in 2025.

The action takes place in Perth, WA, where UoA faces challenging match-ups against new entrant Edith Cowan University (ECU), and 2024 runners-up the University of Western Australia (UWA).

Men’s player, Gavin Zhang, competed in 2024, saying that “UWA was extremely strong, and on paper ECU also looks quite strong. The level of competition was very high, which caught me slightly off guard. This year I’ve come in expecting a battle, so physically I’ve gotten much stronger but have also been working on my tactical game.”

Zhang’s singles match in 2024 was rained out in the middle of the third set against UWA’s Luca Katsamakis, and no result was registered. “I’m quite motivated this year. Hopefully I get to play the same opponent this time and finish what we started last year,” he says.

First-timer, Alysse Dunn, is also expecting a challenge on the Women’s side of the draw, and has been preparing for tough competition. “Our team coach has supplied us with great advice coming into both our doubles and singles matches,” she mentions. “We have had a few training sessions as a team, which I think has helped develop my skills.”

Dunn’s playing style relies on hard work and opportunity, noting that she will “work to chase down as many shots as I can. When I get a short forehand, I’m pretty consistent at putting the ball away - that may be useful against tough opponents.”

The competitors hope that the UTL continues to grow, thereby giving more opportunities to young Australian tennis players. “I honestly can see it evolving into something like the UBL (University Basketball League) where almost all universities across Australia compete,” says Zhang. “Hopefully it can become a premier competition, which the best university players aspire to participate in.”

On their personal goals, Dunn remarks that “participating in the UTL means a lot. I haven't really competed at a very high level, so I'm looking forward to challenging myself and just enjoying the whole journey of playing and being with my team.”

“Tennis is quite an individual sport and can get lonely at times,” agrees Zhang. “So playing for UoA is quite a cool change, as you’re playing with a team and representing something much larger than yourself.”

The University of Adelaide take on the University of Western Australia this Wednesday, followed by matches against Edith Cowan University on Thursday.

Men’s Team: Gavin Zhang, Sebastian Ireland, Agrim Sharma
Women’s Team: Alysse Dunn, Daisy Rees, Claudia Bressan