Ho Sreynoch, on the way to taking the title in both May and June’s Decathlon Open Series events, leaps to strike a serve against Chhieu Apsara in the final last weekend. FRANCK FIFE/afp
June's Decathlon Series tennis events have now come to an end with last weekend’s completion of the Open Event for Men’s and Women’s Singles.
The men’s draw featured 21 players while the women’s draw added seven more.
Ho Sreynoch swept the female categories, winning the Girls 18 & Under category as well as the Women’s Singles draw in both May and June. Sreynoch, 18, defeated 15-year-old Chhieu Apsara 6-1, 6-1 in the final match.
Sreynoch ‘s athleticism and her willingness to use it to control the ball and her shots, rather than playing wildly and going for winners every other shot, has most likely contributed to her success and lengthy winning streak.
Sreynoch and Apsara will depart late next month to the Asean School Games, which is in practice just like the Southeast Asian Games, but specifically for athletes 18 years of age and under. The games will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from July 17-25.
The Men’s Singles title went to a new champion in long-time Cambodian No1 Bun Kenny. Kenny would take the title after winning three matches and losing a total of only six games.
As the No1 seed, he faced third seeded Our Sarith in the semi-finals and secured a spot in the final by defeating Sarith 6-1, 6-1.
In the final he faced second seeded Mam Phalkun, who had dispatched fifth seed Khleang Ponlok 6-1, 6-3 in the bottom half semi-final.
Kenny was too strong and too consistent for the older Phalkun and, though some games were close, was always in control and won the match 6-2, 6-2 to capture the title.
“I don’t mean to repeat myself, but the increase in the level of tennis is apparent,” Tennis Cambodia secretary-general Tep Rithivit told The Post.
“Whether it’s knowing that there will be a tournament every month, or just the sheer number of tournament matches all the players are getting now compared to before, it’s clearly working.
“And all this thanks to Decathlon for believing that more regular competition is what the tennis community in Cambodia needed.”
Sponsors for the event were Decathlon Cambodia, Pontoon Club, Cambodian Country Club and Pharmacie de la Gare.
