Jason HeimTennis: Yuki Bhambri Wins Boys Singles Title At Australian Open
February 3rd 2009 05:30
Category: Tennis
Top seed Yuki Bhambri became India's first Australian Open boys champion after breezing past Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas in Saturday's final.
The 16-year-old from New Delhi took just 57 minutes to win 6-3 6-1, with Georgoudas struggling to win a point on the Indian's serve, while having his own serve broken twice in each set.
It continued a fine record for Bhambri at Melbourne Park.
His previous best junior grand slam performance came at last year's Australian Open, when he lost in a semi-final to Australia's Bernard Tomic, who went on to win the event.
"Winning the Australian Open is obviously a very big achievement, regardless of being the first Indian,'' Bhambri said.
"I dreamed of winning it, and it's come true.''
He said one of the toughest aspects of the match had been overcoming his nerves in playing on Rod Laver Arena.
"I was actually quite nervous in the beginning, that was the first time actually playing on such a huge stadium,'' he said.
"You don't (normally) get opportunities like this to play. As the game and match progressed I felt much more comfortable over there.''
In the boys' doubles final, the Philippines' Francis Casey Alcantara and Taiwan's Cheng-Peng Hsieh combined to down Russian Mikhal Biryukov and Japan's Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-4 6-2.
AAP
The 16-year-old from New Delhi took just 57 minutes to win 6-3 6-1, with Georgoudas struggling to win a point on the Indian's serve, while having his own serve broken twice in each set.
It continued a fine record for Bhambri at Melbourne Park.
His previous best junior grand slam performance came at last year's Australian Open, when he lost in a semi-final to Australia's Bernard Tomic, who went on to win the event.
"Winning the Australian Open is obviously a very big achievement, regardless of being the first Indian,'' Bhambri said.
"I dreamed of winning it, and it's come true.''
Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas and Yuki Bhambri
He said one of the toughest aspects of the match had been overcoming his nerves in playing on Rod Laver Arena.
"I was actually quite nervous in the beginning, that was the first time actually playing on such a huge stadium,'' he said.
"You don't (normally) get opportunities like this to play. As the game and match progressed I felt much more comfortable over there.''
In the boys' doubles final, the Philippines' Francis Casey Alcantara and Taiwan's Cheng-Peng Hsieh combined to down Russian Mikhal Biryukov and Japan's Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-4 6-2.
AAP
| 53 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Go to Craig Hill's home page by clicking here
