Lim suffers another quick exit

For the second straight week, AJ Lim, the country’s top junior player, was eliminated in the first round, this time to unranked Slovenian qualifier Sven Lah in the Metropolitan Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships in Florida.

Ranked No. 6 in the tournament, Lim engaged his Slovenian rival to several exciting rallies but his effort fell short, dropping a close 7-6 (4), 6-3 decision.

He was also beaten in the first round of the Eddie Herr International Tennis Championship last week also in Florida.

But he was lucky in the doubles competition as he and Egyptian partner Youssef Hossam edged France’s Elliot Benchetrit and Great Britain’s Alexis Canter, 6-2, 7-6 (5), in the opening round.

They will next face unrated Alexey Aleshchev of Russia and Romania’s Calin Manda, a 6-4, 6-3 winner over American tandem John McNally and Jeffrey Wolf.

The clay court tournament is rated A in the ITF, just one rung below the Grand Slams.