Vraj, Khomich win Kampala International ITF Junior Circuit-2

India's Gohil Vraj beat Great Britain’s Jesse Clarkson 2-1 in the final to win the ITF World Tour J30-Kampala International Junior Circuit-2, U-18 tennis tournament at the Lugogo courts on Friday.

Vraj who also made the final in the first circuit last week but lost to Estonia’s Nikita Mitrofanov was this time up to the task and fought from a set down to beat Clarkson 2-1(4-6, 7-5, 6-4) in the match that lasted over two hours.

Jesse Clarkson

En-route to the final, Vraj had eliminated Rwanda’s Emmanuel Manishimwe 2-0 (6-0, 6-1) in the first round before he saw off Egyptian Sofyan Elnaqa after a 6-3, 6-2 victory.

In the quarter finals, Vraj matched on easily after his opponent Keshavamurthy Anoop retired in the second set when the latter was leading 4-1, and having taken the first set 6-1.

Vraj then had another long battle against Estonia’s Nikita Mitrofanov in the semis where he was able to avenge his first circuit loss to him, winning the clash 2-1 (6-4, 3-6, 6-2); and before winning the championship against Clarkson.

Michelle Khomich

On his part Clarkson had eliminated India’s Armaan Walia 2-1 (6-4, 6-7(2), 6-1) before seeing off Ugandan Arnold Jurua in straight sets; 6-0, 6-1. Jurua had made it to the second round after he had managed a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rwanda’s David Manzi in the first round.

Clarkson then beat Zimbabwe’s Thompson Thomu 2-1 (2-6, 6-2, 6-2) in the quarter finals before another hard-fought semifinal win over another Indian opponent Rajin Rurik who he beat 2-1 (7-6, 4-6, 6-2).

In the girls’ final Germany’s Michelle Khomich beat Russia’s Leila Akhmetova 2-0 to top the girls' draw of 32. She had earlier eliminated Tanzania’s Sharna Martin Mao and India’s Puri Ajenika in straight sets in the quarter finals and semis respectively.

The boys’ doubles action was won 2-0 by the pair of Hanif Rio/Jesse Clarkson over Pranav Chirumamilla/Akshaj Subramarian while Michelle Khomich/Reddy Nukala prevailed over Akhmetova/Sia Mahajan, 2-1 (3-6, 6-4, (10-4)).

--