Japan sets up title clash with Korea

Ren Matsumura and Ryo Tabata continued to assert their class and considerable potential as they battled for nearly three hours each to put Japan in the final with a 2-0 victory over Thailand in the Asia-Oceania World Junior Tennis under-14 boys tournament at the DLTA Complex on Friday.

Both blunted the power game of Kunanan Pantaratorn and Phopthum Sriwong with their court craft and endless enthusiasm to battle it out, fighting for every point. Matsumura won 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-0, while Tabata prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, with both asserting their quickness of feet and the ability to take the sting out of their opponent’s attacking game, by staying strong in the rallies.

In the final, Japan will face Korea which beat Kazakhstan 2-1, with Cho Se Hyuk once again winning both his singles and doubles matches.

India did its morale some good by beating Hong Kong 2-1, clinching the contest in a tricky doubles encounter.

In the match for the fifth place, India will face Indonesia, which came from behind to ambush Australia 2-1, winning the decisive doubles through Rafalentino Ali Da Costa and Muhammad Mouressi Urwah against Filip Fantasia and Cruz Hewitt.

The results:

Semifinals: Korea bt Kazakhstan 2-1 (Juchan Hwang lost to Damir Zhalgasbay 3-6, 2-6; Cho Se Hyuk bt Zangar Nurlanuly 6-1, 6-1; Cho Se Hyuk & Do Gyeom bt Zangar Nurlanuly & Damir Zhalgasbay 6-4, 6-2).

Japan bt Thailand 2-0 (Ren Matsumura bt Kunanan Pantaratorn 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-0; Ryo Tabata bt Phopthum Sriwong 3-6, 6-3, 6-3).

5-8 placing: India bt Hong Kong 2-1 (Aditya Mor lost to Siu Chi NIcholas Cheng 2-6, 4-6; Arnav Paparkar bt Sin Hang Tam 6-2, 6-2; Tanussh Ghildyal & Arnav Paparkar bt Siu Chi NIcholas Cheng & Ngai Hoi Cheung 7-6(5), 7-5).

Indonesia bt Australia 2-1 (Muhammad Mouressi Urwah bt Filip Fantasia 4-6, 7-5, [10-7]; Rafalentino Ali Da Costa lost to Jake Dembo 3-6, 0-6; Rafalentino Ali Da Costa & Muhammad Mouressi Urwah bt Filip Fantasia & Cruz Hewitt 1-6, 6-4, [10-6]).