Double win for Malaysian tennis tyke Imran at World Junior Masters (updated)
BY LIM TEIK HUAT
THE STAR
Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli of Malaysia in action at the World Junior Masters tennis tournament in Turkey where he won the Under-10 and Under-11 titles on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: A tireless Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli made the nation proud by claiming two singles titles at the World Junior Masters tournament in Turkey on Sunday.
The Kuala Lumpur boy, coached by his father and former national player Abdul Hazli Zainuddin, survived a marathon roller coaster final to beat top seed Dan Vasile Duta of Romania 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) for the boys' singles Under-11 title. The Malaysian had earlier won the Under-10 category with relative ease.
Imran, playing on a wildcard entry for the Under-11 category, got his campaign going with a first round 6-2, 6-1 win over Tunisian Youssef Labbene. He defeated Swiss fourth seed Kilian Feldbausch 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals on Friday.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, Imran overcame second seed American Vasyl Yazadchiev 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
Imran had little trouble lifting the boys' Under-10 title earlier on the same day, crushing Dutch player Manvydas Balciunas 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
In the Under-10 group stage, Imran beat Tunisia’s Karim Fendri 6-0, 6-1, Scotland’s Hector Edmund Fullone 6-0, 6-0 and Latvia’s Maksims Kazancevs 6-0, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals as Group A winner.
Then in the last four on Saturday, Imran used his booming forehands to beat Omar Knani of Tunisia 6-3, 6-2.
Imran had also emerged champion at the clay-court Base 11 and under Stars of Tomorrow tennis tournament in Germany on Aug 30.
Abdul Hazli, a former national No. 2, was delighted with his son's achievements.
"I think Imran has improved tremendously since the last tournament. He’s beating opponents with much better scores. The upgraded training and fitness programmes for the last two months have brought him to another level.
"He had it tough in the boys' Under-11 final and needed nearly four hours to overcome his opponent.
"I am happy he had good stamina despite playing the Under-10 final earlier," said Abdul Hazli.
Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli of Malaysia in action at the World Junior Masters tennis tournament in Turkey where he won the Under-10 and Under-11 titles on Sunday.
PETALING JAYA: A tireless Imran Daniel Abdul Hazli made the nation proud by claiming two singles titles at the World Junior Masters tournament in Turkey on Sunday.
The Kuala Lumpur boy, coached by his father and former national player Abdul Hazli Zainuddin, survived a marathon roller coaster final to beat top seed Dan Vasile Duta of Romania 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4) for the boys' singles Under-11 title. The Malaysian had earlier won the Under-10 category with relative ease.
Imran, playing on a wildcard entry for the Under-11 category, got his campaign going with a first round 6-2, 6-1 win over Tunisian Youssef Labbene. He defeated Swiss fourth seed Kilian Feldbausch 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals on Friday.
In the semi-finals on Saturday, Imran overcame second seed American Vasyl Yazadchiev 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
Imran had little trouble lifting the boys' Under-10 title earlier on the same day, crushing Dutch player Manvydas Balciunas 6-0, 6-0 in the final.
In the Under-10 group stage, Imran beat Tunisia’s Karim Fendri 6-0, 6-1, Scotland’s Hector Edmund Fullone 6-0, 6-0 and Latvia’s Maksims Kazancevs 6-0, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals as Group A winner.
Then in the last four on Saturday, Imran used his booming forehands to beat Omar Knani of Tunisia 6-3, 6-2.
Imran had also emerged champion at the clay-court Base 11 and under Stars of Tomorrow tennis tournament in Germany on Aug 30.
Abdul Hazli, a former national No. 2, was delighted with his son's achievements.
"I think Imran has improved tremendously since the last tournament. He’s beating opponents with much better scores. The upgraded training and fitness programmes for the last two months have brought him to another level.
"He had it tough in the boys' Under-11 final and needed nearly four hours to overcome his opponent.
"I am happy he had good stamina despite playing the Under-10 final earlier," said Abdul Hazli.
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