Lines proves too strong for Selassie
Nick Lines claimed the under-16 boys title at the Highland Spring Junior Open tennis tournament, producing the highlight to finals action yesterday at Pomander Gate.
Top-seeded Lines cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Moziah Selassie, who had earlier been crowned under-14 champion. “I felt very confident,” Lines said. “I played well and took advantage of his backhand.”
Selassie had a busy morning, beating top seed Trey Mallory in straight sets in the under-14 final 6-0, 6-1, before facing Lines. Selassie gave a hat tip to both opponents, saying: “[The under-14 final] was a hard match. We both played really well and had some good strokes. “[Lines] outplayed me. He was stronger and smarter.”
In girls under-14 action, Kaylah Ming continued her dominant run with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over under-12 champion Imani Phillips.
William Way took top honours in the boys’ under-18 singles event, beating fourth seed Dylan Powell in a hard-fought affair, 6-4, 6-4. Fourth-seeded doubles team Connor Anderson and Chris Rego brought the tournament to a close by shocking Way and Lines, the second seeds, 7-5, 6-2.