The first of the NZ ITF Junior Tournaments saw Kiwis dominate in the boys and overseas players in the girls on the last day of the Sunsmart 18/u Canterbury Championships at the Scenic Circle Hotels Tennis Centre, Wilding Park on Saturday.
USA based New Zealand Sean Berman just got home against local hope Barrett Franks in a thrilling match. Franks began strongly forcing errors from his smaller opponent with booming serves and forehands taking the first set 6-4. Berman fought back in the second taking it 6-2 to force the match to a final set.
It proved to be a thriller with Berman breaking serve in the 12th game to take it 7-5 for the match.
Canterbury player Leela Beattie began strongly against diminutive Japanese player Makoto Ninomiya leading 4-2. from then on the speed of Ninomiya began to tell as she won four games in a row to snatch the set and then won the second set comfortably 6-2 to take the girls singles title.
In an all New Zealand final of the boys doubles fifth seeds Jamie Eccleton and Trent O'Keeffe from Auckland beat sixth seeds Anton Bettink and Dan Davies from North harbour 6-2 6-4.
The girls doubles went right to the wire. South Island players Leela Beattie and Gaby Grady took the first set 7-5 over the top seeds Anaeve Pain (New Caledonia) and Steffi Carruthers (Samoa). However the Pacific pair then began a great fightback winning the second set 6-2 to force a super-tiebreak decider. Pain and Carruthers were in control throughout the breaker taking it 10-4 to claim the title.
The next event on the New Zealand summer ITF junior circuit continues in Auckland - qualifying being held on Sunday and main draw starting on Monday.
For further information - http://www.tennisnz.com/Article.aspx?ID=921
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