M’sian Daniel Prickett claims ATF title in upset
KOTA KINABALU: Daniel Prickett of Malaysia claimed an upset win over top seed Rupert Ohrelle Tortal to clinch the Boy’s singles title at the Sabah 8th Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) 14 & Under Series junior tennis championship here yesterday.
Daniel, a wild card entry and unseeded in the tournament, won 6-1, 6-2 against Rupert of the Philippines in the final.
The Malaysian junior played with consistency and varied his strokes to nullify Rupert’s threats, who went for power strokes.
The tournament has been a successful one for Daniel who had beaten two higher ranked players including second seed Lau Hong Kiu from Hong Kong in the second round en-route to the final.
In the Girl’s singles final, sixth seed Lau Jie Ying of Sarawak could not add a second singles title for Malaysia after she went down fighting 3-6, 2-6 to Hong Kong’s Cheung Kei Yau.
Rupert did go home a champion along with Malaysian I. Mohammed Farrouk as they won the Boy’s doubles title.
Rupert/Farrouk defeated unseeded Malaysian pair Thoybah Rahizam/Daniel 6-4, 62 in the final.
As for the Girl’s doubles, Hong Kong’s players dominated the finals where the second seed Cheung/Michelle Wong Hoi Yiu overpowered third seed Alicia Cheng/Lee Tzu Lu6-2, 6-3 to emerge as the champions.
Sabah Tennis Association (STA) president Johnson Koh hailed the performance of the Malaysian players, where they were involved in two of the three finals in the tournament.
Sabah lad Ryan Chee also impressed with a fourth placing after losing in the semi-finals of the singles and doubles events.
“Overall, Malaysian players did well and this is good for Tennis Malaysia,” said Koh in a statement to the press yesterday.
Meanwhile, a welcome dinner was held on Friday evening for all the players, parents, coaches and officials where during the dialogue, some coaches commented on the logistics of the courts.
Koh expressed concern and assured them that next year’s competition will be centered at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas near here after resurfacing works on the courts.
For the record, the unfit condition of the tennis courts in Likas forced the tournament to be held at the Sutera Harbour Resort and the Sabah Golf and Country Club.