Asciak set for world rankings lift

Malta champion Matthew Asciak is set to receive a significant boost in the world U-18 tennis rankings later this year when the list is revised to replace those who drop out due to age factor. Asciak, 16, garnered useful points in October when he...

Malta champion Matthew Asciak is set to receive a significant boost in the world U-18 tennis rankings later this year when the list is revised to replace those who drop out due to age factor.

Asciak, 16, garnered useful points in October when he reached the semi-finals of a top-class tournament in Dubai.

Asciak was eliminated by Hungarian Krisztian Krocsko in three sets 6-3 2-6 6-3. But in the previous round, he succeeded in eliminating none other than the tournament's top seed - Vaja Uzakov, 7-6 6-3.

Uzakov, of Uzbekistan, is currently ranked 183rd in the world.

Krocsko lost the final in Dubai to Russia's Nikita Zotov.

Asciak's latest position is 303 but he will climb several places when the over 18s are omitted from the list in December.

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