Michael, Magali make it Belgian double delight
MUSCAT — It was a day of double delight for Belgians as the curtains came down on the first of the back-to-back Oman International ITF Under-18 Championships here yesterday.
Michael Geerts completed a double by adding the boys singles title to the boys doubles trophy while his Belgian compatriot Magali Kempen clinched the girls singles crown at the tennis courts of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
In the boys singles summit clash, Michael squared off against his doubles partner Cypriot Sergis Kyratzis, with whom he won the doubles title on Friday. But the Belgian, after overcoming a little resistance from the Cypriot, sealed the title with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
A triumphant Michael said: “It was a tough match. But there has to be just one winner and fortunately it was me.”
“Sergis matched me with every shot I played. He is a brilliant player and a good opponent to play against. My best wishes to him for his future tournaments,” he added.
“It was not my day,” said Sergis. “Michael played smart game and all credit to him for the winning the title.”
Earlier the girls singles final turned out to be a one-sided affair with Magali Kempen overpowering her Russian opponent Sabina Shaydullina in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.
“It is a much needed victory for me and I am happy to win it here,” said Magali.
“This win will certainly lift my spirits in the upcoming tournaments for sure. It was a tough match and in fact Sabina played some great shots,” she added.
Later at a simple prize-giving ceremony, Oman Tennis Association Chairman Motassim al Zadjali handed over the trophies.
Meanwhile, Oman’s Abdulmalik al Awfi stayed in contention for a place in the main draw of the second ITF Under18 championships.
In the second round of the boys singles qualifiers, Abdulmalik defeated Libya’s Nour Nehme in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final round.
In today’s final round qualifiers, the Omani boy takes on Vasyl Tkachenko of Ukraine and a victory will make him one of the four to qualify for the main draw.
Vasyl brushed aside the challenge of Jordan’s Bahjat Saeed 6-1, 6-1 in his second round match.
However, four other Omani boys failed to make progress.
Yasser al Barwani started his second round match in style but after that he lost his way and the match 6-0, 3-6, 0-6 to Turkmenistan’s Hydyr Kadyrov.
Ahmed al Balushi was handed a 6-0, 6-0 defeat by William Flavell of Great Britain, Haithem al Balushi was defeated 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 by Abdulrahman al Azzam of Saud Arabia and Omran al Balushi went down 6-1, 6-3 to Ilya Polonskiy of Russia.
Local girl Samar al Bakri also bowed out of the girls singles qualifiers when she lost 4-6, 2-6 to India’s Nida Shahid Kamal.
Nida qualified along with Thailand’s Chanikarn Silakul, Sweden’s Elisabet Strand and Cypriot Maria Siopacha, the latter three getting direct bye into the main draw.
Joseph Colaciello (AUS) bt Nevil Philips (IND) 6-0, 6-0; Hydyr Kadyrov (TKM) bt Yasser al Barwani (OMA) 0-6, 6-3, 6-0; Abdulmalik al Awfi (OMA) bt Nour Nehme (LIB) 6-3, 6-4; Vasyul Tkachenko (UKR) bt Saeed Bahjat (JOR) 6-0, 6-1; William Flavell (GBR) bt Ahmed al Balushi (OMA) 6-0, 6-0; Abdulrahman al Azzam (KSA) bt Haithem al Balushi ( OMA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; Vitali Shcherba (UKR) bt Efekan Bulbul (TUR) 6-4, 6-4; Ilya Polonskiy (RUS) bt Omran al Balushi (OMA) 6-1, 6-3.
(final
Nida Shahid Kamal (IND) bt Samar al Bakri (OMA) 6-4, 6-2.
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