Barranquilla (Colombia), Jan 21 (EFE) .- The American Michael Zheng and the Japanese Sayaka Ishii won in their respective branches the title of the World Junior Tennis Championships that was played at the María Fernanda Herazo racket complex in the city Colombian from Barranquilla. The young American was crowned champion in the men’s branch of the tournament by beating Czech Jan Hrazdil 6-3 6-1 in two sets, in a match in which he won thanks to a powerful serve and an effective backhand. Zheng, who arrived in Barranquilla in 48th place in the ranking of junior tennis players, left Paraguayan Martín Vergara del Puerto in the semifinal, North American Nishesh Basavareddy in fourth and Spanish Alejandro Melero in the previous one. For her part, the Japanese Ishii beat the American Olivia Lincer in the final, also in two sets with partial 6-3 6-2, showing great precision that allowed her to sustain her game in key moments. The Japanese tour in the tournament in Barranquilla, who reached the 80th position of the junior ranking, began by defeating the Russian Nadezda Khalturina and continued with the North American Ava Krug and the Slovakian Nikola Daubnerova in the semifinal. In women’s doubles, the title went to the Slovaks Renata Jamrichova and Nina Vargova. The Europeans defeated the United States duo Krystal Blanch and Ava Krug, 7-5, 6-2. In men’s doubles, the Paraguayan Martín Vergara and the Slovakian Peter Nad celebrated. At the stop of the Youth Tennis World Championship, which was held in Barranquilla 39 years ago, other great figures of this discipline participated in other editions, such as the Chilean Marcelo Ríos, the Austrian Thomas Muster, the Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten and the British Andy Murray. The Barranquilla Junior Tennis World Cup is part of the select group of the only four ITF Grade I events that take place in South America in countries such as Paraguay, Brazil and Ecuador. A total of 40 ITF Grade I tournaments are held worldwide. EFE hpc/ime/amd
