Cambodia’s youngest Davis Cupper Long Samneang blanked out local player Berta Farras 6-0, 6-0 yesterday in the opening round of the Jakarta International Junior Tennis Championships being played at the Indonesian capital’s Kemayoran Tennis Stadium.

The 16-year-old right hander, who was part of Cambodia’s successful Mission to Doha in 2012, was confined to his hotel room in Dubai last month after being diagnosed with chicken pox and could play no part in the Kingdom’s Asia Oceania Group III campaign.

Having recovered well enough, Long Samneang is now in Indonesia for two ITF Grade Four Junior events in quest for his first world junior ranking point.

As a direct entry into the main draw of 64, Long Samneang found the going against Farras to his liking and at no stage was he seriously tested.

But a far bigger challenge awaits him in today’s second round, where a victory against an opponent not yet identified would get him into the world ranking list for the first time in his career.

“It is a big step forward for him and if he gets a world junior ranking it will be much needed boost for our junior tennis initiative,” Tennis Federation of Cambodia Secretary General Tep Rithivit told the Post.

The newly appointed TFC’s head of Junior Development, Phalkun Mam, who played a key role in Cambodia retaining the Group III status in Dubai last month, is accompanying Long Samneang on this trip.