DURBAN, August 6, 2022 (Tennis SA Press Release)

The top-seeded Brit Ella McDonald and second seeded American Leanid Boika claimed their first ITF Junior Grade 1 girls’ and boys’ singles titles, respectively, at the Curro ITF Junior Series in Durban.

The tournament marks the first International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Grade 1 event hosted in South Africa.

McDonald rounded off an impressive week by dumping last week’s runner-up Darja Suvirdjonkova of Serbia 6-3 6-2 in Saturday’s final at Curro Hillcrest.

The world No.60 junior enjoyed a double delight as she also claimed the doubles title alongside her Italian partner Anna Paradisi. The second seeded British-Italian duo defeated Elisabeth Ila from Spain and Zhanel Rustemova from Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-3.

In the boys’ final, second seeded Boika caused an upset by defeating top-seeded Rei Sakamoto, Japanese highest world-ranked junior, 6-2, 7-6(5) in a match that took over 1 hour and 45 minutes.

The players will next play the Samaai Junior Open, an ITF Junior Grade A event at the TuksTennis, University of Pretoria in Tshwane from 8-13 August 2022.

Final Results

Singles

Boys

2-Leanid Boika (USA) bt 1-Rei Sakamoto (JPN) 6-2, 7-6(2)

Girls

1-Ella McDonald (GBR) bt Darja Suvirdjonkova (SRB) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles

Boys

2-Atakan Karahan (TUR) / Rei Sakamoto (JPN) bt Valentin Basel (ARG) / Dmitry Dolzhenkov (RUS) 3-6, 6-1, 10-7

Girls

2-Ella McDonald (GBR) / Anna Paradisi (ITA) bt Elisabeth Ila (EST) / Zhanel Rustemova (KAZ) 6-1, 6-3