Sports: Nii Ankrah, Sisu Tomegah win Sydney Katz Junior Open
Raphael Nii Ankrah and Sisu Tormegah emerged champions of the respective Boys and Girls Under-16 titles of the 2022 Sydney Katz Junior Open Championship held last Saturday at the National Tennis Centre in Accra.
Third-seed Raphael Nii Ankrah overcame fourth-seed Caleb Aryettey in three sets to claim the 2022 Sydney Katz Junior Open Boys Under-16 title.
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Ankrah, competing in his second Sydney Katz Junior Open after winning the maiden edition of the tournament in the Under-14 category, prevailed 6-4 5-7, 10-8 (tie break) to win.
Caleb, though, drew first blood, breaking Ankrah’s opening service game 1-0. Momentum shifts would characterise the first set, with Ankrah leading 3-2 and Caleb finding an edge later on to break for 4-3. However, Caleb couldn't serve the set out, leaving Ankrah to break right back and take the next two games to close out the set.
Ankrah again fell back in the second set, as Caleb opened a 5-4 lead before going on to secure the set.
Ankrah, after losing the second set, raised his game, and then sailed smoothly through the super tie-break and emerged victorious.
Tomegah upset number-one seed Tracy Ampah 4-6, 6-3 and 10-6 (tie break) to win the girls U-16 title.
"I feel really happy that I have finally won. I have lost a lot of matches to Tracy Ampah. I am proud of myself now. After losing the first set, I realised the need to calm down and play as I have been coached, which helped me to win this title," Sisu said.
"I'm happy about the organisation of the tournament. Thank you to Sydney Katz and the family for putting this together for us,” she said.
The finalists of the tourney were rewarded with tennis equipment: tennis rackets, balls and bags.
In an interview on the sidelines of the tourney, the lead organiser of the tournament, Mr Michael Nortey, said the tournament aimed to groom the next generation of tennis talents.
He also disclosed that the tournament was the brainchild of his former protege, Sydney Katz, who was currently playing tennis at the Cornell University in the United States.
