Cassar Torreggiani makes SF

The Tennis Europe ranking tournament for juniors at the Marsa Sports Club, played recently under the auspices of the Malta Tennis Federation, attracted 110 players from all over the continent.

Bernard Cassar Torreggiani played exceptionally well and reached the semi-finals after beating no.4 seed Marco Prochazka (Austria) 6-3, 6-1.

In the previous rounds, Cassar Torreggiani eliminated Cunha Silva (Portugal) 6-2, 6-0 and no.8 seed Morell Rasciatore (Spain) 7-6, 6-3.

In the semi-finals, Malta’s no.1 junior lost to his UK counterpart Daniel Little, currently ranked 32 (U-14) and 164 (U-16) in Europe, in three sets 2-6, 6-2, 7-6.

Little then lost the final to Italy’s Marco Di Prima in two sets 6-2, 7-6.

The girls’ singles was won by Russian Maria Murfutina who beat Britain’s Maia Lumden in the final.

Lumden was leading 3-0 in the first set but after having fumbled an easy shot for a commanding 4-0 lead, she lost composure and went down to the determined Murfutina 6-3, 6-1.

The boys doubles was won by Portugal duo Thiago Eusebio and Antonio Saboguero and the girls title went to Italy’s Alessandra Gisonna and Veronica Napoletano.

Local juniors Raphael Sammut, Matthew Cassar Torreggiani, Robert Montanaro Gauci, Mark Schranz, Jeremy Borg, Rebecca McCarthy, Georgia Farrugia Sacco and Alexia Cassar also took part in the tournament.