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| 10 Dec 2012 - Michelle Munn-Mace | |
| Osama stars on ITF/GSDF team in Mexico and USA |
Mazen Osama (EGY) was the star of the International 18 & under ITF/GSDF Team to the Yucatan Cup, Eddie Herr and the Orange Bowl. The team, who competed in three grade 1 tournaments in Mexico and the USA comprised two boys, Osama and Guy-Orly Iradukunda (BDI) and four girls, Sandra Samir (EGY), Ilze Hattingh (RSA), Lesedi Sheya Jacobs (NAM) and Theresa Alison Van Zyl (RSA).
Osama had a good start to the tour, reaching the singles quarterfinals and the doubles semifinals at the XXVI Yucatan Cup. In the singles, Osama was defeated by Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (USA) 60 61. Partnered by Chi-Shan Jao (TPE), the Egyptian faced the Italian-British duo of Filippo Baldi and Alexander Sendegeya. Osama and Jao were denied a place in the final after a 60 63 defeat. Amongst the girls, Sandra Samir, seeded 12th in the Yucatan Cup, defeated team mate Theresa Van Zyl in the second round and then, without dropping a set, made her way to the quarterfinals, when she lost to American second seed Sachia Vickery 61 64. In the girls’ doubles Ilze Hattingh reached the semifinal partnered with non-ITF team player Katrine Isabel Steffensen (USA), losing to Christina Makarova (USA)and Ayaka Okuno (JPN) 64 62.
At the Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships, Mazen Osama once again stood out from the team by reaching the semifinals, where he lost to eighth seed Chilean Christian Garin 36 63 64. The Chilean, with his compatriot Nicolas Jarry, were once again too strong for Osama and his partner, Skander Mansouri (TUN), when the latter were defeated in the doubles final 46 62 [105].
Garin and Jarry once again got the better of Osama and Mansouri, denying them a place in the doubles semifinal at the Orange Bowl International Championship with a 64 64 win.
The ITF would like to thank all the tennis federations involved in organising the tournaments during the tour and offering such great hospitality to the players while on tour.
The team, travelling with coaches Ivan Molina (COL) and Dermot Sweeney (ZAM), is financed by the Grand Slam Development Fund (GSDF), providing players not only with the opportunity to take part in top level international competition but also the invaluable experience of travelling abroad as part of a team under the guidance of an ITF coach.
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