The 11th Bahrain ITF Juniors Tennis Championship got off to a sensational start yesterday with the boys’ top seed crashing out.
Patrick Wheat-Lindsey of the US was the giant-killer who saw off number one seed Czech Boris Stastny’s resistance in the second set to clinch a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 first round win at the Bahrain Tennis Club in Juffair.
In one of the most gripping first round encounters of the day, which saw 32 boys’ and girls’ singles matches, Boris made the American battle for every game.
After going down in the first set, Boris came back into the match to clinch the second and set up a thrilling final set.
Patrick, however, was up to the challenge as he pulled off a remarkable victory, much to the excitement of the spectators.
There was no major upset in the girls’ section, where top seed Nina Danisova of Slovakia cruised past Saudi Arabia’s Yara Alhogbani 6-1, 6-2.
Meanwhile, boys’ second seed Garv Bahl of India blanked Mohamed Al Shehabi of Bahrain 6-0, 6-0 while third seed Vansh Bhagtani of India encountered stiff resistance from Oman’s Muneer Al Rawahi. The Indian won in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
In another exciting battle, Britain’s Daniel Abernethy bounced back after dropping the first set to claim a deserving 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Pablo Trochu of France.
Girls’ second seed Stefania Bojica of Romania was made to struggle by Britain’s Aryana Bartlett in the second set before securing a 6-1, 7-6(3) win.
Easy
R Alioussef of Russia, the third seed in the girls’ section, had an easy opener, sailing past Egypt’s Perihan Auf 6-2, 6-0.
Another Egyptian, fourth seed Hagar Ramadan, meanwhile, had an easy outing seeing off Renee Marie Acena of the Philippines 6-3, 6-1.
In a thrilling clash in the girls’ section, India’s Hrudaya Shah staved off a dogged resistance by Swiss Lia Mosimann to clinch a 6-4, 7-6(6) win.
The opening round of the doubles matches will be played today starting at 4pm. There will be 14 matches in both boys’ and girls’ sections.
RESULTS (singles first round)
BOYS
Patrick Wheat-Lindsey (USA) bt 1-Boris Stastny (CZE) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; 2-Garv Bahl (IND) bt Mohamed Al Shehabi (BRN) 6-0, 6-0; 3-Vansh Bhagtani (IND) bt Muneer Al Rawahi (OMA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-1; 4-Mark Owen Endler (GER) bt Rahul Jaideep (IND) 6-4, 6-4; 5-Alexander Knox Jones (GBR) bt Mohammed Alkhan (BRN) 6-0, 6-0; 7-Luca Daniel Constantin (ROU) bt Archie Turner (GBR) 6-1, 6-1; 8-Archie Graham (GBR) bt Yousef Manna (USA) 6-1, 6-1; Daniel Abernethy (GBR) bt 6-Pablo Trochu (FRA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2; Matteo Fuschillo (GBR) bt Yigit Cengiz Binici (TUR) 6-3, 6-0; Felipe Mikkelsen (DEN) bt Alexander Pustovit (RUS) 6-2, 6-3; Orhan Gur Umur (TUR) bt Sai Bhairaav Mannju (IND) 7-5, 6-2; Oliver Richards (GBR) bt Andrei Jovanovic (SRB) 6-0, 6-4; Enes Donmezer (TUR) bt Avneet Singh (IND) 6-2, 6-2; Pierre Antoine Tailleu (FRA) bt Alexander Borup (DEN) 7-6, Ret.; William Jansen (GBR) bt Umit Ege Cankus (TUR) 6-3, 6-4; Hrishikesh Parashar (IND) bt Ali Al Sharif (BRN) 6-2, 6-0.
GIRLS
1-Nina Danisova (SVK) bt Yara Alhogbani (KSA) 6-1, 6-2; 2-Stefania Bojica (ROU) bt Aryana Bartlett (GBR) 6-1, 7-6 (3); 3-Rosaleen Alioussef (RUS) bt Perihan Auf (EGY) 6-2, 6-0; 4-Hagar Ramadan (EGY) bt Renee Marie Acena (PHI) 6-3, 6-1; 5-Jessica Dhome-Casanova (GBR) bt Aleina Elizabeth Alex (IND) 6-2, 6-0; 6-Caroline Fawzy (EGY) bt Shreya Menon (IND) 6-2, 6-2; 8-Niva Vicic (DEN) bt Srihitha Jaligama (IND) 6-1, 6-4; Issey Purser (GBR) bt 7-Erika Weil (HUN) 6-4, 7-6 (4); Hrudaya Shah (IND) bt Lia Mosimann (SUI) 6-4, 7-6 (6); Saniya Manoj Masand (IND) bt Anna Lajos (HUN) 6-3, 7-6 (6); Rhea Singh (IND) bt Andra Sutherland (GBR) 6-1, 6-4; Andra Izabella Sirbu (ROM) bt Zenia Baretto (IND) 6-2, 6-1; Olivia Rook (GBR) bt Jannat Kaur Anand (IND) 6-4, 7-5; Mariam Atia (EGY) bt Liz Badde (LUX) 7-5, 6-4; Jermine Sherif (EGY) bt Ananya Kothakota (USA) 6-1, 6-1; Nazley Nader (BRN) bt Tanya Nanda (IND) 6-1, 6-1.