Kimberley Cassar claimed
double honours in the tournament organised by Tennis Club Kordin in
collaboration with the Malta Tennis Federation
.
The
tournament attracted a good number of players from no
less than 16 countries who purposely travelled with their parents and personal
coaches for this tournament from as far as Russia and Serbia. It is thanks to the efforts of the Malta
Tennis Federation and the main sponsor Simonds Farsons Cisk p.l.c. through
their product San Michel Table Water that such tournaments are possible providing
our juniors with the opportunity to experience the high standard of play
expected at such events.
This
year participation from the locals was more evident but unfortunately the
standard is still lacking. The only
worthy and outstanding participation for this particular 16U Category was that
of Kimberley Cassar as the other Juniors were all still too young and the
purpose of their participation was to gain experience and allow them to do
better in the forthcoming 14 & U tournament scheduled for next month.
The
first final of the Tournament was the Girls Doubles played between the Italian
favourites Francesca Franco and Vincenza Ciraolo and Kim Cassar from Malta and Janine Ruhstaller from Switzerland. Following a very shaky first set which went
to the Italians 6-2, Kim and Janine managed to rally back to take the second
set and match and title 2-6; 6-2, 6-0.
The
first of the Singles finals of the San Michel International Tournament was
concluded at the Tennis Club Kordin in front of a sizeable crowd of spectators
who were present to watch local
promising junior Kimberly Cassar
notch her first singles honour of the Tennis Europe Juniors 16U Category,
In
the Girls final Kim Cassar played against the Italian Stefania Gattuso. She was the more impressive of the two taking
the initiative right from the start, never allowing her opponent to take the
upper hand. One could notice a marked overall improvement
of her whole game. In spite of a
gallant effort by Stefania, Kim’s determination and consistency were more
evident and she deservedly won in straight sets 6-1; 6-3. With this first international Junior title,
Kim has now achieved her childhood dream which should augur well for her tennis
future particularly her next participation in the European Championships being
held in Moscow next week.
The
presentation of the trophies was carried out by the President of the Malta Tennis Federation Dr
David Farrugia Sacco.
