Clark Francis Tennis Academy stars get taste for future success

Matt Jones - Editor 18:02 09/05/2015
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  • More than 3000 players took to the courts for the right to become Masters champion.

    The next generation of tennis stars got a taste for the future when the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium hosted the Clark Francis Tennis Academy Junior Masters Series finals earlier this month.

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    With over 30 weeks of competition and more than 3,000 entries the finalists took to the courts for the right to become Masters champion which brings with it the biggest prize in junior tennis, an all expenses paid trip to the French Open in Paris.

    Four different age categories battled through to the finale with every competitor desperate to book their seat on the plane to Roland Garros.

    The girl’s Under-8 and Under-9 events saw Imene Ghettas defy all the form as she trounced her opponent Sonicka Jadeesh in the U9 orange final 4/0 before doubling her dominance in the U8 red final, against a frustrated Sonicka, to become the only player to win two age categories this season.

    Hadi Osman continued his total domination of the U8 category, brushing aside his long term rival and companion Rayan Sajjid 7/2 8/6.

    The U9 final saw an amazing battle with Anthony Moukarzel racing to a 3/0 lead before being pegged back by Come Carpentier, forcing the match into a tiebreak.

    In a stunning display by both players Carpentier came through victorious against an incredibly valiant Moukarzel 4/3 (7/5).  

    The girl’s U10 competition saw two Romanians face each another with Andra Sirbu unable to cope with the more experienced big match play of Stefania Bojica, losing 4/0.

    Carlos Nau and Mohamed Reda renewed the intense rivalry they have had for over three years as they met in yet another final.

    In a hard fought match Nau managed to get the upper hand and stamp his authority in this age category, winning 4/2.

    Deepshika Sriram could not have had a worse start in her U12 final as opponent Stefania raced to a 2/0 lead.

    Calmly though Sriram held her composure as she steadied the ship and won six of the next seven games to take the title 6/3.

    The stand out match of the day occurred in the boy’s U12 final.

    Hercules Gourosis and Aman Anwar battled for over an hour, the former saving multiple match points before eventually taking the title 6/5 (7/5).

    Both the boy’s U14 and U18 girl’s finals were one sided affairs with Jack Goddard and Miguel Nau powering their way to 6/1 victories against Bijan  Moeinzadeh And Pranav Sadhvani respectively.

    It was left then for 11-year-old Roseleen Aliouseff to take to the court for two finals.

    In the U14 final she faced Bea Acena in a titanic battle which never saw Acena ahead until the final two points, winning 6/5 (7/5).

    She then had to step back on court for the U18 final against strong favourite Rai Sangupta.

    No one gave her a hope against her vastly more experienced and older opponent, however from the first point onwards an inspired Aliouseff stepped up and blitzed her way to a 5/3 lead.

    Sangupta dragged herself back to a tiebreak but Aliouseff held on to take a 6/5 (7/3) victory.

    Tennis director, Paul Espie, said: “Our association and partnerships with three of the largest and strongest organisations in their respective industries gives us a platform to host such outstanding events.

    “The DelMonte Colour Series is without question the biggest competitive program in the Middle East while the Adidas Junior Masters Series is the premier competition for all potential superstars in the region.

    “On top of that our incredible partnership with SWISS opens a pathway for players to see first hand their heroes competing for a Grand Slam title. Our gratitude cannot be understated to all three of these powerhouses.”

    Founder and creator of the academy, Clark Francis added: “It was some of the most exciting and intense tennis we have ever had the pleasure to watch.”

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