Aleina bags junior tennis title

Top seed Aleina Alex outplayed Nazley Nader 6-2, 6-2 to clinch the Girls 16 years and under singles yesterday at the Fourth E.K Kanoo Junior Open Tennis Championships at the Bahrain Tennis Club (BTC) premises in Juffair.

Aleina made her aims clear in the opening game of the first set as she secured an opening break game and though her opponent offered some resistance in the third game, Nazley was broken for a second time in the cool and windy conditions to trail 3-0.

With this advantage, Aleina extended her lead to 5-0 though Nazley made a fight of it and broke her opponent and then held service in the next game only for Aleina to comfortably win her service game and take the first set 6-2.

The second set started similar to the first with Aleina 3-0 up after winning two breaks of service before Nazley effected a break.

However, Aleina won a third break in the next game only for Nazley to do likewise in the next as she tried to claw back at 2-4 down.
Aleina who is more experienced than Nazley on the court managed to win the last two games for the title.

“It was not the greatest weather being cool and windy at times and I also missed the crowd atmosphere for motivation. I still feel though I could have played and moved better but happy I took the title,” said Aleina, a 13-year old student at Sacred Heart School.

“I was disappointed at losing in the final and need to improve my overall game and need more practice. Aleina was a good and tough opponent and more experienced than me, though I feel overall my performance is getting better which I need to work on further,” said Nazley, a 14-year old student at Al Raja School in Manama.

Meanwhile, the championships under the patronage of board member for administrative affairs at E.K Kanoo, Talal Fuad Kanoo conclude today with the Unisex 9-10 years singles final at 4pm between Riku Takano and Essa Al Qattan with the winner being the first to win seven games in a single set.