Abdul Jabbar Faisal
ISLAMABAD:-Ivan Iutkin from Russia has won second back-to-back ITF Juniors title after defeating Mehmet Onur Turgut from Turkey in straight sets 2-0 in the Boys’ Singles final of the ITF Pakistan Elaan Syed Dilawar Abbas Memorial World Junior Tennis Championships that concluded at PTF-S DA Tennis Complex, Islamabad on Saturday. It is pertinent to mention here at Ivan Iutkin had claimed the ITF Tennis crown at the same venue after beating Kazak lad Aldiyar Abzhan 2-0 on February 12, 2022.
Unseeded Ivan Iutkin ousted Mehmet Onur Turgut in a straight sets with the score-line of 6-4 and 6-3, as the match lasted 1 hour and 14 minutes. Both the players exhibit high standard of tennis and moved forward equally till the game score was leveled 4-4. In the 9th game Ivan Iutkin was down 0-40, however, he changed the strategy of the game and fought back bravely to secure the game and make the score 5-4. In the 10th game Ivan played extraordinary and finished the first at 6-4. In the second set Ivan again showed his supremacy to build-up the lead 4-2 by breaking 4th game of Turgut and continued his winning pace till the end of set and match 6-3. Ivan showed a remarkable speed and exhibited excellent tennis.
Sa Rang Lim overcomes Andra Izabella in Girls’ Singles final
Earlier, in the morning session, unseeded Sa Rang Lim of Korea annexed the Girls Singles title and caused the major upset when she toppled top seed Andra Izabella Sirbu of Romania in an exciting thrilling three sets match at 6-1, 2-6 and 6-4, which lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes. Andra Izabella took a flying start 3-0 against Sa Rang Lim by breaking the 1st and 3rd game and continued the same pressure and won the set at 6-1.
In the 2nd set, Sa Rang Lim fought back bravely and played excellent tennis from the baseline, and leveled the match 1-set all by breaking the 1st, 3rd, and 5th game of Andra Izabella. The actual battle of supremacy was started in the final set which was marked with drop shots, powerful forehand, backhand drives, and cross-court down the line shots, and saw some exhilarating tennis as both the players reached 4-games all. Sa Rang Lim broke the 9th game of Andra by playing powerful forehand and backhand drives at 15-40 and then in the 10th game she maintained the same pace of the game to win the set and match at 6-4 and gained valuable World Ranking points to improve her international ranking.
Prize Distribution:
Salim Saifullah Khan President Pakistan Tennis Federation graced the occasion as chief guest, whereas Tariq Mehmood Murtaza President Islamabad Tennis Association along with Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul, Ambassador of Turkey, Yerzhan Kistafin - Ambassador of Kazakhstan. Irena Gancheva, Ambassador of Bulgaria and diplomat from Russian Embassy and Yasir from Elaan group were present at the prize distribution ceremony.
Results:
Boys Singles (Final)
Ivan Iutkin (Russia) beat Mehmet Onur Turgut (Turkey) 6-4, 6-3
Girls Singles (Finals)
Sa Rang Lim (South Korea) beat Andra Izabella Sirbu (Romania) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.
