Dale serves up some Tassie history with Australia Cup win

No Tasmanian had won the girls title in nearly half a century, but Hobart’s Alicia Dale broke the state’s Australia Cup drought in front of a home crowd.

Alicia Dale became the first Tasmania to win the Australia Cup girls title at Hobart. Domain Tennis Centre. Picture: Chris Kidd

She described being the number one seed as “scary”, but Hobart schoolgirl Alicia Dale handled the pressure to become the first Tasmanian in almost half a century to claim the Australia Cup on Friday.

Playing in front of a home crowd in Hobart, Dale overcame Queenslander Juliet Santitto 6-1 5-7 (10-7) in Friday night’s final.

She is the first Tasmanian to hoist the female trophy since the state’s sole previous champion Maree Booth did so in 1980.

“It means a lot because it shows the hard work I’ve put in I’ve spent playing tennis is paying off,” the 17-year-old St Mary’s College student said.

“Just working on my skills to reach this point, it feels amazing because a couple of coaches I’ve had previously were runner-up in the same tournament. It feels good I was able to go one step further.

Alicia Dale. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Going in as top seed is scary, but I felt I was ready and prepared myself well in the weeks leading up. I knew I could take it to them and had the skills to do it, but to actually do it is crazy.

“I’m really privileged that I was able to do it in my home in Tassie. I played this tournament a couple of years and I’ve always dreamt of being a winner here, so it feels incredible,”

Dale advanced to the final with a dominant 6-1 6-0 win over Amy Findlay in the semi finals.

She is now planning to head to the mainland in upcoming weeks to play ITF tournaments and earn a world junior ranking.

“I want to try and go to the US on a tennis scholarship in about two years once I finish school, to do college over there,” she said.

Dale was also appointed captain of the Tasmanian squad for the team event.

“I was mainly just there to bring the team together and show some teamwork, which we did throughout the week,” she said.

Dale is coached by Mickey Conallin and a regular hitting partner, Catherine Krueger, was the last Tasmanian to make the girls final in 2015.