Doubles champions crowned, singles finals today

0

 

Canter (second, left) and Sokolovsky with SLTA officials Douglas (right) and Bong after  the boy’s doubles title yesterday.

Canter (second, left) and Sokolovsky with SLTA officials Douglas (right) and Bong after
the boy’s doubles title yesterday.

KUCHING: Alexis Canter and Mikhail Sokolovsky were crowned boy’s doubles champions in the 27th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship (Grade 1) yesterday.

They edged the China pair of Mo Ye Cong and Wu Yibing 7-6(5), 3-6 (10-6) at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) centre. Canter and Sokolovsky, both playing their first ever tournament in Sarawak, were grateful after their narrow win.

“In the end, the result showed that only a few points help determine the winner of this match.I will certainly cherish this moment here in Sarawak,” said Canter as he and his partner were interviewed after the match.

Canter added that he was looking forward to returning to his native England for more training before his next tournament.

Sokolovsky, who is from Russia, said he looked forward to returning to Sarawak either as player or as a tourist.

“I would like to come here again in the future. After the win today, Kuching is definitely a special place for me which I will remember fondly of.”

Prizes for the boy’s doubles event were given out by SLTA first vice president Douglas Telajan and committee member Bong Vui Khee.

Meanwhile, in the girl’s doubles final played earlier, the pair of Rifanty Kahfiani (Indonesia) and Lee Yang (Chinese Taipei) triumphed over the unseeded Japanese pair of Anri Nagata and Naho Sato 6-4, 6-3.

The tournament resumes on Sunday with China’s Wu Yibing taking on Britain’s Alstair Gray in the boy’s final while Canada’s Charlotte Robillard-Millette faces Du Zhima of China in the girl’s final.

Gray beat Uzbekistan’s Khumoun Sultanov 6-0, 6-4 while Wu defeated compatriot Lyu Chengze 6-4, 6-1 in the semi-finals. Close matches among the girl’s singles last four saw Robillard-Millette defeating Michaela Haet 7-5, 6-4 while Du overcame compatriot Ma Shuyue 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.