MARCHING ON: Nicole Tan Y-Kit of Singapore booked her spot in the girls singles last eight with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Prachi Naidu of India. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Malaysia’s highest ITF ranked player Talhah Mohamad Rahizam crashed out of the first round of the 8th Asian 14 and Under Series tennis championship at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) tennis centre, here yesterday.
The ITF No. 38 and tournament’s third seed suffered a 3-6, 1-6 upset defeat to unseeded Japanese Daisuke Sumizawa while five of his compatriots progressed to the last 16.
They include players from Kuching Adrian Lim Zan Kuang and Alvin Teng Wee Jie, Sheikh Ameer Sheikh Ahmad, Selvaraj Vikram and Rahaizat Achop Borhan Janang.
WINNING START: Alvin Teng Wee Jie hits a return to Cheng Kai-Shun of Chinese Taipei in the boys singles first round match of the 8th Asian 14 and Under Series yesterday. Alvin won 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. — Photo by Davidson Kho
Adrian, ITF ranked No. 98, had it easy when he sent the qualifier from Hong Kong’s Yip Wai Lun packing 6-1, 6-0 in the opening round.
He will next play against Singapore’s Sherwin Foo in the last 16 after the ITF No. 45 blanked another qualifier Ernest Dagenhart of Belarus 6-0, 6-0.
Alvin Teng came back from one set down 1-6 to beat eighth seed Cheng Kai-Shun of Chinese Taipei 6-2, 6-1 to meet compatriot Rohaizat who saw off fellow Malaysian Wan Muhammad Fakhrul Wan Shaiful 7-5, 6-2 in the other match.
Ameer and Selvaraj advanced to the next round after beating Philippines’ Arthur Craig Pantino 6-4, 6-4 and Isaac Law Noah Hui 6-0, 6-3 respectively.
Tournament top seed and ITF No. 6 Alan Sou Ming Chun of Hong Kong had no problem at all in disposing of Malaysia’s Mark Leong Wei Yang 6-0, 6-0 while second seed Eric Oliverez Jr was made to sweat for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Thai player Vorachon Rakpuangchon.
Those who also booked their tickets in the last 16 are Pattanapong Borisutpong of Thailand, Christian Alvin Edison of Philippines, Huang Ling Xiang of China, India’s Kabir Manrai, Harrison Soegiarto of Indonesia and Lai Kuan-Chang of Chinese Taipei.
In the girls’ competition, Caitlin Lean was the only player left flying the Malaysian flag after
she overcame fellow Malaysian Alia Azman 6-3, 6-0 in the first round.
However, it would be a tough task for her in the last 16 today when she takes on top seed Saba Najafi Dehaghi of Iran who received a first round bye.
The other last 16 match will be between China’s Ting Lu Hui and second seed Snehal Mane of India after the former beat Indonesia’s Nadhila Astuti Safira 7-6(9), 4-6 and 7-5.
Those who entered the quarter-finals yesterday were Ma Yexin of China, Nicole Tan Y-Kit of Singapore, Kaaviya Balasubramaniam of India, Shamira Azzahra from Indonesia, Rafella Jean Villanueva and Khim Iglupas of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, matches for the boys and girls doubles were washed out by a downpour at 2:55pm yesterday.
Tournament officials called off the competition at 4:45pm as the skies remained overcast.
A total of 18 girls and 32 boys from 12 countries are vying for top honours in the main draw of this tournament that ends on Sunday.