Top seeds end on high

Nairobi, Kenya: The country’s top seeded junior tennis players excelled at the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association (KLTA) Kenya Open Junior Tournament held at the Nairobi Club at the weekend.

Faith Nyabera, Achu Madhieu, Kevin Cheruiyot, Shivam and Keean Shah made sure they ended the year on a winning note in their respective categories as curtains fell on the 2014 KLTA season.

Nyabera prevailed 7-5 6-1 over Nelly Neema to lift the girls Under-16 trophy. She put up a hard fight against her opponent, who was not willing to let her take the victory easily.

Nyabera admitted she was not at her best in that tie.

“I was not on top of my game especially in the first set. Most of my balls went out of the court. She (Neema) took advantage of my errors and it was difficult for me to secure a win.”

Neema, a form two student at St Bonventure School in Kisumu, said Nyabera was more experienced but she will improve her game.

“Nyabera is a very good player but am also determined to better myself.”

The youngster now looks forward to the 2015 Kenya Secondary School games for an opportunity to better her skills.

“My target is the nationals next year. I failed to go past the Nyanza region this year but I won’t stop until I achieve my objectives.”

Nyabera attributed here victory to composure borne out of the desire to remain on top as she easily took the second set, 6-1. However, Nyabera was not lucky in Under 18 category as she fell to Madhieu 6-4, 6-4.

Boys Under-18 top seed Kevin Cheruiyot maintained the status quo with a 6-4 7-6 (7) victory against second ranked Ibrahim Kibet.

In the boys Under-14 final Keean won the battle of siblings, beating his younger brother Kael Shah in straight sets of 6-0, 6-3.

Shivam Shah won the boys 16 years category after a long battle with Kisumu’s Aaditya Dahiya.

Dahiya easily grabbed the first set 3-6, but Shah gained composure in the second set fighting hard to snatch it 7-6 (2). He dominated the third set winning in three sets of 3-6 7-6 (2) 6-4.

Alissa Thakker triumphed 6-0 6-1 over Natalya Mburu in the girls 14 category.

Mburu did not go home feeling beaten as she took the top honours in the Girsl 12 years with 6-2 6-4 victory over Beatrice Shako.