South Korean Lee prevents all-Malaysian final showdown
KUCHING: Third seed Tan Lin En of Malaysia lived up to expectations after advancing to the boys singles final of the 12th Sarawak ATF 14 & Under Series Tennis Championship at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Tennis Centre yesterday.
The Sarawak junior overcame the challenge of his compatriot Mitsuki Leong Wei Kang 6-2, 7-5 in the last four and will play another Malaysian Leroy Yong, the fourth seed, in today’s final.
Yong had created an upset by ousting second seed Thehan Wijemane of Sri Lanka 6-0, 6-0.
In the girls singles semi-finals, Lee Eun Ji of South Korea eased past Malaysia’s Chan Li Ying 6-1, 6-1 and will take on tournament top seed and ATF No. 7 Elsa Wan from Malaysia in the final after the latter sent compatriot Lim Sze Xuan packing in straight sets of 6-0, 6-2.
Meanwhile, the top seeds prevailed in both boys and girls doubles finals after facing stiff opposition from their opponents.
In the match between Chan Tsz Him and Curtis Tan Hong Tseng of Hong Kong and Leroy Yong and Mitsuki Leong Wai Kang of Malaysia, the former won the first set 6-4 but lost 3-6 in the second.
However, they won the super tie-break 11-9 to lift the title.
It was the same story in the girls doubles final when the combination of Chloe Chong Zhi Jing (Malaysia) and Cheuk Ying Shek (Hong Kong) lost the first set 4-6 to the Malaysian pair Shihomi Leong-Lim Sze Xuan.
Chong-Cheuk won the second set 7-6(5) and went on to take the super tie-break 10-4.
SLTA deputy president Douglas Telajan, who also the tournament director, gave away the prizes, witnessed by SLTA secretary Bernard Chin.