Maciek Sykut didn't wait for a birthday present from anyone - he got his own gift, a unique one at that.

His 6-4, 6-4 victory over fellow American Dylan Arnould in Saturday's Boys' Open singles final of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation ITF World-Ranking Junior Tournament was the perfect way to celebrate his milestone.

"I am 17 today and I am pretty happy with my performance. It wasn't that easy, especially with the rain early in the tournament and I flew in from Costa Rica so it was a bit rough but I pulled through," said the 18 and Under champion.

"I think my strong point was how I handled things mentally because, though I didn't play to my potential, I was able to win. I think staying focused was key to my winning."

Sykut, who manoeuvred through each round quite comfortably, seemed to have the upper hand from the start though Arnould was no slouch with the racquet.

In the very first game, Sykut had Arnould struggling to hold serve and then opened up his own service game with two aces. In the third game, Sykut squandered two break opportunities but clearly gained a psychological advantage as his opponent continued to have trouble serving. Also, the sight of Sykut standing well inside the baseline to receive serve may have unnerved Arnould even more.

In the fifth game, Sykut finally achieved his objective of breaking Arnould. The latter seemed to have escaped by saving a double break but then threw the game away with a double fault. Sykut - now up 3-2 - drew inspiration from that and won the next two games, enjoying a triple break on Arnould's next serve to extend his lead to 5-2. Arnould pulled back one break and then held his own serve but Sykut won the set on his next serve.

Sykut's rampage and shot precision continued in the second set, breaking Arnould in the first and fifth games to establish a 4-1 cushion. Arnould, sensing the writing was on the court, summoned a last stand as he broke back in the sixth game and held his serve at love - with an ace down the middle - to narrow Sykut's advantage to 4-3.

However, his rival would not be denied and clinched his next two service games and the match. His winning shot was a sizzling forehand that kissed the line as it left Arnould stranded on his backhand.

If the start of Sykut's 2003 junior campaign is anything to go by, then this Florida resident has much to look forward to.

"I played in three ITF tournaments last year and lost in the first round each time. This is my third win in three (tournaments) this year and I hope it keeps on rolling," said the player whose ultimate goal is to reach Grand-Slam level.

Arnould was pleased with his week's work up until the final. It was the 15-year-old's fourth event since coming onto the circuit last year.

"I felt it was a good week. I was happy with how I played. It didn't work out in the end but it was a good tournament. I tried to play solid all the way and stay focused," said the Massachusetts native.

"I thought I played well today but he played better. He served well. In the second set I picked up a little but it wasn't enough."

In the battle of the 14 and Under Boys, Thomas Svensen defeated Harry Masters 6-2, 6-4 in the all-Bermuda final. The Boys' Open doubles was won by Canadian Clay Donato and Germany's Victor Schmid. They defeated Alex Chang of the USA and Mexico's Johnny Hamui 7-6 (4), 6-3.

In the Girls' Open doubles, Jo-Ann Van Aerde (Suriname) and Stephania Velasquez (Aruba) turned back the challenge of American Christy Striplin and Bermuda's Ashley Brooks 6-2, 6-3.