Last month, Tennis Club Kordin (TCK) officials were actively involved in the running of the San Michel International Junior Open which saw local and international U-14 players engaged in some close contests in search of precious ranking points.

The tournament came to a close last weekend in front of a large number of tennis enthusiasts who turned up to support the local talent mainly.

The finals were spread over two days, doubles on Friday and singles on Saturday. Elaine Genovese, partnered by Ireland's Maria Morrissey, offered stiff resistance but failed to clear the final hurdle against the forceful Italians Gioia Barbieri and Elisa Brentino 6-4 6-3.

In the boys' event, favourites Matthew Asciak and Harris Kapo-giannis confirmed their superiority against Gavin Gilhawley and John Morrissey, of Ireland, in a straight sets win 6-2 6-2.

The girls' singles final was an all-foreign affair with Barbieri confirming herself as the best player in the tournament raking the maximum points at stake in both singles and doubles.

Against Macedonia's Jovana Pejcic, Barbieri's aggressive play paid good dividends as she won comfortably 6-3 6-3.

In the boys' final Asciak failed to retain the title he won last year as he lost to Slovak Zalan Klempa 6-3 6-3.

Regularly organised since 2001, the Junior Open this year attracted the largest and most encouraging number of foreign participants.

The TCK organising committee was assisted by the Malta Tennis Federation.