ITF Junior Circuit a stepping stone for youngsters — Liew

KUCHING: The Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ITF Junior Circuit tennis championships is a good stepping stone for young tennis players to achieve stardom at higher level competitions such as the Grand Slam championships.

Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association ( SLTA) president Dato Patrick Liew said some of the players who are competing in Grand Slams have played in Kuching during their younger days.

“Eight players who have played in Kuching are now competing in the Australian Open and they are Luksika Kumkhum, Caroline Garcia, Ashleigh Barty, Timea Babos, Hsieh Su-Wei, Zhu Lin, Yuki Bhambri and Bona Coric.

“Out of the eight players, Luksika has progressed to the round of 32 after beating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in straight sets 6-1, 6- 3 in the round of 64 on Wednesday.

“Congratulations to Luksika who will meet Petra Mar tic of Croatia in the next round tomorrow (Friday),” Liew told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Liew, who has been monitoring the progress of Luksika, said the Thai challenger had beaten Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6- 3, 7- 5 in the round of 128.

“The Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ITF Junior Circuit, which is organised twice every year in Kuching, is a good platform for the junior to move up the ladder.

“It is a good experience for SLTA to have hosted the prestigious Sarawak CM’s Cup where we have the chance to see those playing in Kuching progressing to competing in Grand Slam events.

“Hopeful ly one day they can emerge as Grand Slam champions,” he added.

SLTA has hosted the Sarawak CM’s Cup since 2001 and this year it will be organising the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ( I) ITF Junior Circuit ( Grade One) from March 13 to 18 and the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ( II) ITF Junior Circuit ( Grade Three) from Oct 16 to 21 at the SLTA Tennis Centre, Jalan Crookshank.