The Tennis Courts of the Accra Sports Stadium was alive with impressive display of Tennis when the Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) hosted the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 18 and under World Junior Circuit Tour in Accra.
The week long competition saw Mathis Bondaz from France confirm his status as one of the world’s best young players with a stunning victory over Seychelles Damien Laport to lift the Accra ITF World Junior Circuit trophy for the boys singles.
The unseeded player, Bondaz gave a display of breathtaking quality to triumph 6-4,6-3 in two hours and 10 minutes.
In the girls finals, Chinese Han Shi beat Egyptian Hagar Ramadan to win her first ITF Junior Circuit title. The Chinese overcame her opponent in two sets victory 6-0,6-3. For a 13 year old, Han Shi displayed amazing focus throughout the week and never lost a set.
The doubles also saw Indian Lumba Eshaan and Egyptian Youssef Nabel defeat Polish Marcel Politowicz 6-4,7-5 to emerge winners in the boys division.
In the girls doubles final, France based Astride Cirotte paired with Martha Makantasi from Greece to oust Danish Charlotte Mosbaek Ellegaard and Russian Olga Mishenina 6-2,6-2. Boys doubles winners were Indian Lumba Eshaan and Egyptian Youssef Nabil. Polish Marcel Politowicz and Boris Stastny from Czech Republic were finalists. (6-4,7-5).
However, the Ghanaian players participating in the competition crushed out earlier in the tournament. Johnson Acquah was the last Ghanaian in the singles event. He was defeated by the eventual winner of the competition 6-2,6-0 in the quarter finals.
In the doubles event, Benjamin Palm and Johnson Acquah lost 7-5,6-3 to Eshaan Lumba and his partner Youssef Nabel.
Overall, 64 players from 20 countries participated in the ITF certified tournament. The tournament was sponsored by Mcdan Group of companies, Hollard, Vitamilk, Ann Mineral Water and the Ghana Tennis Foundation.
The CEO of McDan, Mr. Daniel McKorley reiterated his commitment to revive Ghana Tennis and urged tennis fans to throng the Accra Stadium for the next tournament from April 29th to May 5th 2019.