Christian a step from title in Beijing

youngster Christian Didier Chin is just one match away from winning his second ITF junior doubles title in three months.

The Sabahan and partner Tsai ChangLin of Taiwan yesterday reached the final of the China Junior (ITF Grade 2) tournament.

In the semi-finals, they were pushed to the limit before emerging victorious against China duo Yu Chenyang and Bu Yunchaokete 6-3, 2-6 (10-7) at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing.

His campaign in the singles event, however, came to an end in the quarterfinals where he was outplayed by top seed Mu Tao (China) 6-0, 6-2, which was also played yesterday.

Christian’s father-cum-manager Christopher Chin highlighted lack of physical strength as one of the reasons for his singles defeat.

“Christian is definitely a doubles specialist but he has to work on his physical strength for the singles,” said Christopher, when contacted yesterday.

“He has all the tactics (for singles) but his bigger opponents are more consistent than him, especially after eight strokes in a rally.

“His singles opponent today (Mu Tao) was clearly bigger than him and had reached the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this year.”

Chang-Li and Christian will play Thai pair Kasidit Samrej-Thantub Suksumrarn in the final tomorrow. The latter defeated Mu Tao-Zheng Boren (China) 6-2, 7-5.

Christian, then partnering Rishabh Sharda of India, had won the Ho Chi Minh ITF Grade 4 tournament in Vietnam in July.