The Marsa Sports Club recently hosted the 2008 Malta Open Tennis Championships, sanctioned by the Malta Tennis Federation.

In the men's singles competition, 18-year-old Matthew Asciak won his fourth successive title after he beat Jonathan Desira 6-0 6-0 in a one-sided final.

There was a new winner in the ladies singles.

Kim Cassar won the title for the first time in her career after toppling up and coming player Brenda Galea 6-1 6-2 in the final.

On his way to the final, Asciak, who is the youngest winner in these championships, had the better of Mark Cachia and Marcus Delicata before beating Daniel Ceross 6-1 6-4 in the semi-finals.

Desira, a Maltese-Australian player who has been training with the national team for the past three months, had to work very hard to overcome the stiff challenge of another promising youngster, Omar Sudzuka, before winning the semi-final in three sets.

In the semi-finals Cassar beat Steffie Sullivan while 14-year-old Galea prevailed over Klara Sitarova.

The men's doubles final turned out to be a very tight contest.

Desira and Ceross had the better of Asciak and Zarb Mizzi after three close sets.

Gatorade were the main sponsors of the championships.