WINNING COMBO: Gerald (left) and Gabriel pose with SLTA president Patrick Liew after receiving the medals from the latter. — Photos courtesy of Dr Wee Thian Yew
KUCHING: Gerald Yao added another two titles to his collection this year when he won the Boys U-18 singles and doubles at the Sarawak Junior Age Group Tennis Masters over the last weekend.
He bagged the Boys U-18 singles title after defeating Kenneth Tan 6-1, 6-4 in the final played at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Complex at Jalan Crookshank.
Gerald’s younger brother Gabriel, who lost to him 0-8 in the first round, won the consolation draw by beating Ricco Soh 8-0.
The losing semi-finalists were Alvin Teng and Mohd Zaid Masuud.
The Yao brothers teamed up to clinch the Boys U-18 doubles title by beating Alvin Teng-Ricco Soh in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(10-8).
They made the final after beating Dennis Ting and Mohd Zaid Masuud 8-1 in the semi-finals while Alvin Teng-Ricco Soh were 8-7(7-4) winners over Gregory Tan and Kenneth Tan.
Gerald also scored a double in the Sarawak Junior Age Group Tennis Masters in August this year when he won the Boys U-18 singles and the Boys U-18 doubles with Gabriel.
In the Boys U-14 main draw, second seed Brandon Ross Frias Dan emerged the champion after he beat Qasyim Mohd Salleh 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
Prior to the final, he blanked AS Tamel 8-0 in the first round, followed by a 8-2 thrashing of Mohamad Irfan in the last eight and beating Charles Runyaan 6-1, 6-0 in the semi-finals.
Mark Leong, who lost to Brandon 0-8 in the first round, won the consolation draw when he beat Muhammad Zahid Arbi 8-2 in the losers pool.
The Boys U-14 doubles crown went to Charles Runyaan and Brandon Ross Frias Dan who beat Afizal Ahmad Mahmud-Farith Emier Farhan Morni 8-7(11-9) in the final.
Aiman Hamdan bagged the Boys U-10 singles title after winning all four games in the five-player league and the runner-up was Ami Khaidir who won three games and lost one, followed by Jimmy Leong, Leroy Ko and Matthew Chong in third to fifth spots.
Belinda Chai clinched the Girls U-18 title by beating Michelle Sim 8-3 and Annabelle Joy Dan 8-1 in the league that saw only three players competing.
Annabelle, who beat Michelle 8-5, was second and the latter finished third.
The Girls U-14 singles was won by Kirstin Leong who remained unbeaten in four games to collect eight points.
Second was Caitlin Lean who had four points and coming in third was Linda Liong who also scored two wins but lost to Caitlin due to points difference.
Fourth was Alia Azman who scored two wins and finishing last was Nurirdina Mohd Rosdi who lost all her matches.
Annabelle, who teamed up with Belinda Chai, won the mixed doubles title after beating Michelle Sim-Linda Liong 8-1 in the semi-finals and Mohd Aiman-Mohd Norhadzmi 6-3, 7-5 in the final.
The tournament orgainsed by Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association from Nov 19-20, was the last event on the association’s calendar this year.