Carr and Bulow Impress in Lead-Up to State Titles

As the first season of the year wraps up in the Open Grade fixture at the Leichhardt Park Playing Centre, most players are finding their rhythm just in time. With the annual Rockhampton Open Championships only four weekends away, the city’s top contenders are shaping up for a fierce contest, particularly against strong visiting competition from south-east Queensland.

In the most recent round of fixtures, several singles matches stood out for their quality and intensity. Judging by the effort and form displayed by Rockhampton’s leading players, they look well-prepared to perform over the upcoming Anzac long weekend.

Among the most promising are junior talents Judd Carr and Cooper Bulow, who have both been honing their skills through top-grade fixtures and demanding practice sessions. With the Queensland Junior State Titles at Moreton Bay looming in the second week of the school holidays, both players appear on track to compete at a high level.

Carr recently had an impressive hit-out against former state and national representative Joel Coughlan. The match featured several high-quality rallies, with Carr showcasing a more aggressive attacking style than usual. Despite leading two games to one, Carr was eventually edged out, losing 12-10 in the fourth and 16-14 in a nail-biting decider.

Nonetheless, the young player’s performance was a highlight of the night and a sign of his growing potential.

Meanwhile, Bulow continues to progress in Division Two, gaining valuable experience against seasoned adult players. In his latest outing, he convincingly defeated Joe Clifton in straight sets—a first, after previously managing only patchy wins against the crafty opponent. Bulow also emerged victorious in a five-game battle against the experienced Linda O’Sullivan, a result that further demonstrates his improving tactical play and resilience.

This round also saw a thrilling clash between two of the club’s frontrunners, Matthew Pettett and Rayden Smith. Smith had the upper hand early, leading two games to one, but Pettett mounted a strong comeback to take the match in the fifth. The contest was marked by fast-paced rallies, aggressive hitting, and remarkable retrieving from both players.

James O’Sullivan, one of the club’s veteran competitors, continues to defy expectations. Despite the age gap between him and many of his rivals—and having started in a different era with limited coaching and several years away from the sport—he regularly troubles the club’s top players. In his recent match against Dane Coughlan, he dropped the first two sets to the latter’s heavy topspin attack but rallied impressively to force a decider, where Coughlan eventually secured the win.