In the lead-up to Anzac Day, the 2009 Gallipoli
Youth Cup, an International Tennis Federation 18/u Grade 4 event was held at
Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open.
This unique sporting event aims to foster the
already significant relationship between Australia and Turkey.
More than 120 girls and boys competed in the
event, all aiming to improve their international junior ranking.
Entries came primarily from Australia, with
international competitors from New Zealand, Austria, South Africa, China, India,
Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and
Samoa.
Andrew McLeod (QLD) has won his second Optus
Junior Tour title for 2009, taking out the boys' singles final at the Gallipoli
Youth Cup at Melbourne Park on the weekend.
McLeod, the winner the Optus 16s Autumn
Nationals boys' singles title earlier this month, upset top seed Barrett
Franks (NZL) 7-6(5) 6-2.
Seeded eleventh, the 16-year-old won the
tournament without dropping a single set.
In the girls' final Chinese thirteenth
seed Haochen Tang stormed past Optus Australian Junior Fed Cup team
member Viktorija Rajicic (VIC) in convincing fashion.
Tang, who eliminated the top seed in the
third round, took the final 6-1 6-1.
Rajicic and Tang then teamed up to win
the girls' doubles final against Teiwa Casey (WA) and Emily Fanning (NZL).
The boys' doubles final was a marathon
three set match between top seeds Jordan Szabo (VIC) and Andrew
Whittington (VIC) and No.6 seeds Jack Schipanski (SA) and Luke Saville
(SA).
After dropping the first set Szabo and
Whittington fought back to take the second set, eventually winning the
match 10-6 in the third.