Finalists of the boys singles and girls singles posing with tournament director-cum-SLTA vice president Douglas Telajan (second right) and other officials after the prize presentation.
KUCHING: Tomas Machac of Czech Republic and Zeel Desai of India claimed their first ITF Junior Grade 1 titles at the 29th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Tennis Championship that concluded at the SLTA Tennis Centre yesterday.
It was a breakthrough for the Czech who won a Grade 4 title last year.
“I played very well and I wasn’t tired. The opponent was good but I played very well,” said Tomas of the final match against the 15th seed Benard Bruno Nkomba of Australia.
The tournament 10th seed won 6-2, 6-2 and did not drop a single set en route to the title.
The ITF No. 93 player, who turns 17 in October, was born and brought up in Prague but lives 30km away from there.
“ I will be playing two tournaments, a Grade A and Grade 1 in Italy next month,” he added.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Zeel from Gujarat felt on top of the world yesterday by beating c ompatriot Mahak Jain 6-3, 6-2.
“I am really happy and it gives me confidence to face my next tournament the French Open Junior in June,” said the ITF No. 29 ranked player and India’s number one junior player.
It was a major improvement for Zeel as she lost in the third round here last year. She became the second Indian girl to have won in the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup after Rashimi Teltumede in 2008.
Incidentally, she also beat Mahak in the final of the Women’s Futures USD$15,000 tournament in Gwalior last week.