The ITF Junior World Tennis Tour has arrived at the business end of the tournament on this week in Ashburton.
Hosted by Mid Canterbury Tennis, the tour runs until Sunday at Braided Rivers Community Trust Ashburton Tennis Centre, on Oak Grove.
More than 200 international under 18 tennis boys’ and girls’ champions registered to compete in the J60 event in singles and doubles format, including those from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe and America.
Among them were New Zealand under 18 tennis players Josh Gilbert and Riley Breen, both 15, of Ashburton.
Earlier this week 21 boys competed for entry into the main draw of 64 male players. Among them were Winston Bramley of Poland, Alex Savelli of Australia and Kiwis Bede Kirwan and Kangrui Xu.
Kirwan and Savelli both went on to win two qualifying games to progress to the main draw.
Entry to the tournament during the week is free for spectators, and a chance to watch some top international age group tennis talent in action.
Meanwhile at the ASB Classic in Auckland this week former Mid Canterbury lad James Watt had Kiwis on the edge of their seats this week during play on centre court.
A wildcard entry into the main draw of the men’s doubles, the 24-year-old was teamed up with tennis veteran Marcus Daniell.
They played Roberto Carballes Baena from Spain, and Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the first round on Monday night then went on to play Spaniards, Pablo Carreno Busta and Sergio Martos Gornes on Tuesday night.
Watt, who went to Hinds School then Timaru Boys High before heading to study and play at Saint Mary’s College of California in the United States, is a right-handed, two-handed backhanded player according to his ITF profile and stands at six foot nine (206cm) tall.
He now lives in Melbourne.
During round play against the Spanish duo he used his height to his advantage showcasing a powerful forehand.
The Kiwis came close to winning the match but Daniell, 35, pulled a calf muscle during play. They lost the match 1-6, 7-6(5), 10-2.
