Sacha MerzettiA total of 160 players from more than 20 countries took part in the San Michel ITF Under-18 tournament, held recently at Corradino Heights.
The competition, organised by the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club (VLTC) in conjunction with the Malta Tennis Federation, was part of the International Tennis Federation Under-18 Circuit.
As expected, a good number of participants left their mark with some high-quality and entertaining tennis. The event also served as valuable experience for local junior players as they tested themselves against their foreign counterparts.
The boys’ final was between Italy’s Sacha Merzetti and Marcus Walters, of Great Britain.
Merzetti dominated the match from the off, taking the first set 6-1 even though Walters demonstrated some battling qualities in his repertoire. Merzetti was the more-experienced and powerful player though, winning the match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.
In boys’ doubles, the Czech duo of Filip Duda and Motle Pavel beat Italians Enrico Della Valle and Merzetti 6-4, 6-1.
The girls’ singles final was an all-English affair between Jodie Anne Burrage and Ema Lazic.
Long rallies underlined play in this medal match with Burrage winning 6-4, 6-2.
Burrage then partnered Italy’s Federica Bilardo to add the doubles to her singles success.
In the final, they had the better of Dorien Cuypers, of Belgium, and Lexie Stevens, of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-2.
At the end of the tournament, Twanny Camilleri, high-ranking VLTC official, presented trophies to the winners and runners-up in the presence of International Tournament director Francis Sciberras.