Top-ranked U-12 players from the Malta Tennis Federation recently returned home after participating in two international tournaments in Greece. The players making the trip to Athens were Matthew Asciak, Clive Vella, Elaine Genovese and Lianne Schembri. The team was accompanied by coach Helen Asciak.
Some top players from different countries were taking part in these two tournaments and the MTF described the Maltese players' participation as a successful one.
In the first tournament in Katerini, Asciak, Vella and Genovese all had fine starts but Schembri was ousted in the opening round.
Vella then lost to Greece no.15 player Ventouris, Asciak lost to Greek champion Charis Kapogiannis in three sets while 11-year-old Genovese beat Tunisia's no.2 player to reach the quarter-finals.
In the consolation event, Vella beat Emilov (no.10 in Bulgaria) but then lost to Tunisian no.4 Nouri 9-8 in a very close match.
Asciak beat Greek Tsolis and then overpowered Tunisian no.1 player Bouhaziz 9-0. In the semi-final Asciak lost to Russian no.2 Perevoctchikov 9-4. Genovese lost in the quarter-finals to Vafea, ranked no.5 in Greece, 6-2 6-3. Perevoctchikov went on to win the event and was the winner of the second tournament.
From Katerini, the Maltese players moved to Veria. Here, Asciak again beat Bouhaziz 6-1 6-1 and Vella got his revenge and eliminated Ventouris in three sets. The Maltese girls both lost in the first round to Tunisian opponents though.
In the second round Asciak beat Greek no.8 Politis 7-5 7-5 but in the last eight the Maltese youngster lost to Cypriot no.1 Koshis 6-4 6-2. Vella was eliminated by home player Valatsos 7-5 7-5. Koshis made it to the finals of both tournaments in Greece.
On their part, Vella, Genovese and Schembri figured in the consolation competition. Vella lost to Nouri 9-2; Schembri was eliminated by Giotopoulou 9-3 but Genovese took the trophy for second place after beating Latinopoulou.
In the doubles event, only held in Veria, Asciak partnered Kapogiannis and won the tournament. They beat Lanchava/Lanchava from Georgia; Politis/ Gospodinov and in the final Koshis/ Perevoctchikov.