Eshaan Lumba and Vipasha Mehra were crowned the Under-18 boys’ and girls’ champions in the opening leg of the ongoing FuturePro Talent Series.
The boys’ Under-16 tournament was also held over the UAE National Day weekend, and it was Garv Bahl who emerged champion.
Held at the Kings School Al Barsha tennis courts and part of the newly-formed UAE National Ranking Tennis Tournaments of the UAE Tennis Federation, theFuturePro Talent Series has proved to be a huge success with nearly 110 budding stars taking part in the five age category events that have taken place so far.
The tournament, which is being hosted by the FuturePro Tennis Academy, one of the fastest growing academies in the UAE, continues this week with the men’s, women’s and veterans’ tournament.
In the boys’ Under-18 final, the tall Lumba prevailed over a spirited Karan Manghnani. The 15-year-old from Dubai American Academy did not drop a single set in his four matches, but after taking the first set 6-1, was stretched in the second before winning 7-5.
“I really enjoyed playing the tournament and it is a great initiative from the UAE Tennis Federation. I have been in Dubai for the past three years and it was getting a bit frustrating not to be able to play regular tournament tennis. But with the UAE National Ranking Tournaments, that issue has been addressed,” said Lumba.
Mehra, an ITF-ranked player who trains at FuturePro, was equally impressive in her victory. The 15-year-old southpaw was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Russia’s Rosaleen Alioussef in the title decider. Her only worry during the week when she won all her matches in straight sets was a first-set tiebreak against the girls’ Under-14 champion Stefania Bojica in the second round.
The finalists of the U18 boys and girls divisions pose with their trophies.
In the boys’ U-16 finals, Bahl was a 6-3, 6-0 winner over the U-14 champion Elias Anwar.
FuturePro will be hosting five legs of National Ranking Tournaments until May 2018 as part of the official UAE National Tennis Calendar.
Rahul Tulpule, co-Founder & CEO of FuturePro Tennis Academies, which also has presence in India and Argentina, said: “It really has been a fantastic response to our tournament and it is great to get the feedback from the players and their parents so far. FuturePro is working very closely with UAE Tennis Federation and has taken up the maximum slots in the UAE Ranking Tournament Calender for the 2017-18 season.
“With a formal National Ranking System in place, it will help the players with opportunities for international sports scholarships and other opportunities.”
With an objective to encourage adults to take up the game and enjoy it as a recreational and fitness activity, the Academy has also launched the FuturePro Amateur Series for beginners and intermediate players.
All details and entry forms of the tournaments can be accessed at www.futureprotennis.ae.
