Eric rules the court with two crowns
I feel good, I feel tired as I came from the Men’s Futures event in Turkey last week but I feel really good now for registering my second win this year. Eric Vanshelboim
KUCHING: Eric Vanshelboim of Ukraine lived up to his top billing when he claimed the boys singles crown at the 32nd Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup ( II) ITF Junior Circuit ( Grade 3) tennis championship at SLTA Tennis Centre yesterday.
The ITF Junior No. 111 was simply too good for Lancelot Carnello from Australia who was his partner when they won doubles title yesterday.
Eric brushed aside Lancelot in straight sets 6- 1, 6- 2 in the match that lasted one hour and 10 minutes.
“I feel good, I feel tired as I came from the Men’s Futures event in Turkey last week but I feel really good now for registering my second win this year.
“I won the other ITF Junior Circuit title in the Dominican Republic,” said the 17-year old who is originally from Kiev but moved to Denmark before currently living and training in Spain.
Vanshelboim will be returning to Spain after this and said he would probably not be playing in any more tournaments this year.
“I have been to many places and there are definitely more courts here in SLTA Tennis Centre. I like it here because the people are very nice and the food is good too,” said Vanshelboim of his first visit to Kuching and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, girls singles IJanice Tjen from Indonesia made a major breakthrough this year by winning a ITF Grade 3 title after she beat compatriot and tournament top seed Priska Madelyn Nugroho 6- 4, 6-3 in one hour and 33 minutes.
“I am very happy to win my first title this year because I did not expect to beat Priska who is ranked very much higher than me. She is ITF No. 107,” said the ITF No. 380 who hails from Jakarta.
“I just played as there is nothing to lose because I have already entered the final. I have also won the first-runners up trophy for the girls doubles yesterday.”
Janice was here earlier this year with the Indonesian national team playing in the Junior Fed Cup qualifying event.
“I chose to play here because it is near to Jakarta and the place and facilities are good,” said the 16-year old.
S a r awa k L awn T en ni s Association president Dato Patrick Liew Chin Joon, accompanied by secretary Bernard Chin and treasurer Kho Siak Koi, gave away the trophies.