Date - 7/2/2010
Description - Amer Naow of Syria and Mai El Kamash of Egypt lived up to the expectations lifting the Oman Open ITF Junior titles in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex here yesterday. While Amer overcame a spirited challenge from Yannis Baltogiannis of Belgium 7-6, 6-2, Mai after some hiccups in the first set defeated Aarzoo Malik of India in almost a similar fashion 7-5, 6-0. It was a double delight for Mai, who paring with Aarzoo, had lifted the doubles title on Friday thrashing Indo-Finnish duo of Manya Nagpal and Alexandra Hietaniemi.
‘‘It was a very good tournament with the level of matches quite high,’’ said the 15-year-old Amer after winning the first junior tournament of his career. After winning a tough first set, and levelled two-games all in the second, the Syrian put in all his effort to win four games in a row and finally the set 6-2. In the girls’ final, it looked as if Mai knew Aarzoo’s game quite well right from the word go. Mai began aggressively as soon as the match started breaking her opponent’s serve in the very first game. But Aarzoo took her revenge in the second game. The battle for supremacy went on for a while with the first set levelled at five-all.
But the top-seed from Egypt had other ideas and serving beautifully she held on to her serve to take the final game and the set 7-6. The Egyptian took the second set by storm breaking her opponent’s serve in the very first game. After that there was no looking back for the talented Mai, who did not let Aarzoo have any chance whatsoever. With a mixture of some good top forehand and backhand returns, Mai was at her best in second set winning it 6-0. ‘‘I was very confident from the beginning, as I knew Aarzoo’s game as she happens to be my doubles partner too.
After winning the first set, I played more aggressively in the second and I suppose this did the trick,’’ said the 15-year-old Mai, who is ranked fifth in the juniors category in Egypt, after her victory. On the other hand Aarzoo looked a bit dejected. ‘‘I am very disappointed with my play. But I am determined to take the revenge in Doha where we will be playing this week again, if I happen to meet her there’’, said the 15-year-old Aarzoo.
Tournament Director Karim Saadallah from Algeria also had a word of appreciation for the organisers and the tournament as a whole. ‘‘It was very well-organised tournament with players from more than 30 countries participating in it,’’ said Saadallah. ‘‘It has been a very successful in the region especially after conducting it in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Muscat. We we will be moving to Doha this week,’’ added Saadallah.
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