MTF junior players back from UK tournaments

Seven junior players from the Malta Tennis Federation (MTF) have just returned from the UK after competing in their first LTA ratings tournaments.

The young Maltese hopefuls, two girls and five boys, took part in both Tipton and Birmingham Edgbaston events. They played in the U-14, U-16 and U-18 events for boys and the U-16 and U-18 competitions for girls.

David Farrugia Sacco, president of the MTF, stated that this was the first such experience where a team accompanied by a coach played for a relatively long period outside Maltese shores.

“This all falls in line with the federation’s policy to maximise on international match practice for our juniors players,” he said.

During the first week of the opening tournament, based at the prestigious Tipton Indoor Tennis Centre, the Maltese team did well and achieved good results.

Bernard Cassar Torregiani and Raphael Sammut reached the U-14 semi-finals and Brenda Galea made it to the last four in both U-16 and U-18 singles, narrowly losing the U-16 semi-final in a close third set.

Susannah Mifsud, who was eliminated in the first round, made up for that setback by winning the consolation event held in conjunction with the main tournament.

In doubles, Galea and Mifsud won the girls U-16 event and Bernard partnered his brother Matthew Cassar Torregiani to secure the boys’ U-14 tournament, beating fellow Maltese Sammut and his UK partner Ben Kirk in the final.

In the U-18 doubles, Julian Sammut and Robert Montanaro Gauci lost in the final.

In U-18 singles, Julian Sammut was eliminated in the quarter-finals, Montanaro Gauci lost in the second round and Galea, in the tournament for girls, was ousted in the semi-final.

In the other tournament, Mifsud lost in the first round while Montanaro Gauci was defeated in the second round.

In the same U-16 category, Raphael Sammut and Matthew Cassar Torregiani made it to the third round and Bernard CassarTorregiani reached the quarter-finals.

In the U-16 event for girls, Galea did well to reach the Birmingham final. Due to bad weather and heavy rain on the day, the decisive match was switched to a very fast synthetic grass court which clearly favoured Galea’s opponent from the UK.

In the U-14, Raphael Sammut reached the semi-finals but lost to Bernard Cassar Torregiani who proved his talent as he went on to claim the section honours.

Twins Bernard and Matthew won the U-14 doubles tournament as Raphael Sammut and his UK partner reached the finals of the U-18s.

Accompanying coach Robert Tarpey said that this was the first MTF-sponsored trip to the UK, offering an ideal opportunity to the Maltese players to figure in competitive matches against opponents from a different country.

“This was a good occasion for the young players to garner more experience,” he said.

“It has also been a pleasure to travel with the team. The players were representing the country and showed great commitment. Their on-court behaviour was also exemplary.”