Cambodian tennis No 1 Bun Kenny beat Henrik Ragg in the men's singles final of the 2010 Cambodian Open yesterday. Bun Kenny survived two set points in the first set to record a 7-5, 6-1 victory over the 17-year-old Estonian at the National Training Centre. Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun
via CAAI
Monday, 25 October 2010 15:00 H S Manjunath
Cambodia's top ranked tennis player Bun Kenny brushed aside two Estonian challengers on the way to clinching the men's singles title in the 2010 Cambodian Open Tennis Championships at the National Training Centre. In a final that failed to live up to the pre-match hype yesterday, the 20-year-old top seed staved off two set points against left handed junior Henrik Raag, before punishing the error-strewn Estonian in less than an hour for a 7-5, 6-1 victory.
Raag loses his rag
“Kenny didn't quite touch his best today,” said Cambodian national team coach Braen Aneiros, but an under par Bun Kenny was still a notch above Raag. The 17-year-old visitor gradually lost out from a position of strength, serving for the first set at 5-4 and 40-15 after both had traded breaks earlier on.
However, once Kenny had pulled himself out of the tight spot by saving those set points, the Estonian was seemingly done for as he allowed his emotions to speak louder than his court craft.
Kenny not only took control of the first set, but stormed well ahead in the second set on the back of the Estonian's balking forehands and unforced errors. Raag was so overcooked in frustration that he broke a racket, and adding to his woes were broken strings on another one, which is a common professional hazard.
“It is a problem with him,” said Raag's personal coach Priit Pihl, referring to an apparent lack of focus especially when losing out on crucial points.
The Estonian coach and his trainee, however, restored a modicum of self pride when they joined forces to easily get past Bun Kenny and Orn Sambath 6-1, 6-2 in the Men's doubles final yesterday afternoon.
Rushed performance
Rain delays during the midweek had squeezed the schedule so tight that Bun Kenny was forced to play both his quarterfinal against Peter Lucas and his semifinal against Priit Pihl within an hour of each other Saturday.
The Cambodian No 1 showed no signs of fatigue as he got past Lucas’ spirited challenge in straight sets, dotted by long and intense baseline rallies. Kenny shifted gears quickly enough against Pihl, riding home the momentum of winning the first set 6-3 to polish off the tie 6-2 in the second.
The second-seeded Henrik Raag, who enjoyed a longer recovery time after his quarterfinal, was all over Orn Sambath in the other semifinal, beating the local youngster 6-1, 6-2 to make the final.
Ek Chamroeun tops U18
Orn Sambath was again on the receiving end Saturday when he went down in three sets to Ek Chamroeun in the boys U18 final.
After taking the first set with ease, Chamroeun allowed Sambath to claw back into the match. But in a see-saw deicider, Chamroeun played the percentages better than his opponent to complete a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.
In the semifinals, Orn Sambath beat Kan Sophon 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, while Ek Chamroeun downed Long Samneang 6-2, 7-5.
Sok Oun is golden oldie
Veteran Yi Sarun at last found his match against Sok Oun, when slogged out the over 45 singles final. Sok Oun's unwavering consistency saw him triumph 9-3 in the dash to nine games.
The boys U14 final between Saman Moni Odom and Dom Sambath, scheduled to be played after the men's doubles final yesterday, had to be put off until today after Odom had developed cramps during his semifinal win.
Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia Vath Chamroeun presided over the closing ceremony yesterday and handed out the trophies after the men's singles final.
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