Arab talent mark second-round action in ITF Junior event

TDT | Manama

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The second round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Championship, J60 category, continued yesterday with thrilling matches that included a few surprises in the results.

Russia’s top seed, Marat Salbiev, made an impressive start to the tournament with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 victory over Turkey’s Hakan Arda Aydin. Bahraini player Ahmed Al-Sayed, however, was eliminated in the first round after losing to Greek player Iason Lakos, 6-2, 6-1.

In other matches, Austria’s Maximilian Hidlmair advanced to the round of 16 after defeating third seed Turkey’s Bogra Ozkoc, 7-6(5), 3-2, following Ozkoc’s retirement due to injury. Serbian Mateja Potic also secured his place in the next round with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Turkey’s Kaya Kankardes, while Turkish player Iskender Nasiri triumphed over compatriot Erkut Aydin, 6-0, 6-2.

Saudi Arabia’s Sattam Muafi was knocked out in the first round after a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Sweden’s Axel Raper. Romania’s Teodor Alexandru beat Spain’s Victor Velasco, 6-0, 6-4, to progress to the next stage. Turkey’s Cagan Tofikci also moved forward with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Italy’s Santiago Brispali.

Egypt’s Ahmed Ibrahim triumphed over Lebanon’s Giorgio Bidan with a scoreline of 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, while Yemeni player Mohamed Meki advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Turkey’s Yagiz Yildiz 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

In the girls’ singles competition, Serbia’s top seed Masa Jankovic impressed with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over China’s Xinru Zhong, securing her place in the round of 16. Romania’s third-seeded Gloria Bob also advanced to the next round with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win over Turkey’s Salin Kayakint.