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Three Set Contests In ITF Finals - ITF NZ Indoor U18's tournament, Auckland

Auckland Table Tennis Association

Monday 14 July 2008, 1:55PM

By Auckland Table Tennis Association

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The boys and girls finals both went to three sets at the ITF (International Tennis Federation) New Zealand Indoor Championships on Sunday with ATP ranked Finn Tearney of Wellington winning the boys singles and the ever improving Tanya Samodelok the girls title.

Tearney, 17 has two ATP senior international ranking points but was forced to work hard against Auckland’s Trent O’Keeffe to secure his 6-1 2-6 6-3 win at the Merton Road courts in east Auckland. It was the second ITF junior title for Tearney.

Although missing out on the main prize O’Keeffe was able to return and win the doubles title with fellow South Auckland player Darnell Sgubin over Dan Davies(North Harbour) and Hayden Joblin(Wellington).

The girls singles title was decided between two of the younger stars in the field as Samodelok at age only 13 continued her relentless progress to becoming a fully-fledged professional player.

Born in Russia but living in New Zealand the top seed won the first set 6-4 but dropped the second 6-7 against one of New Zealand’s best hopes, Briar Preston, 15 from North Harbour before winning the final set 6-4.

Preston was able to win the doubles title by teaming up with German exchange student Katharina Mittag beating an Australian pair in the final.

Results from (ITF) International Tennis Federation NZ Indoor U18's tournament, Auckland.
New Zealand unless noted

Boys singles final:
(1)Finn Tearney bt (6)Trent O’Keeffe 6-1 2-6 6-3.
Boys doubles final:
(3)Trent O’Keeffe/Darnell Sgubin bt (4)Dan Davies/Hayden Joblin 6-1 6-1
Girls singles final:
(1)Tanya Samodelok(Russia) bt (3)Briar Preston 6-4 6-7(1) 6-4.
Girls doubles final:
(1)Briar Preston/Katharina Mittag(Germany) bt Prisciall Soenario(Australia)/Naomi Tran(Australia) 6-4 7-5.