The 2 ITF J30 Events have just concluded in Lautoka, Fiji. The Tournament Referee for both events writes:
“Fiji’s two J30 events were moved from July to new dates in April for 2024. The move proved to be an outstanding success and coupled with a change to 48 main draws, drew record numbers to ITF World Tennis Tour Junior circuit events in Fiji. Over 140 players took part each week including significant numbers from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and Singapore along with local Fiji players and those from neighbouring Pacific Island Nations.
In the first week Cody Atkinson (NZL) played outstanding tennis throughout the week to win the boys singles over Yuta Dokai (JPN) 62 61 and then also combine with Aleksander Franko (AUS) to win the boys doubles over Dokai and partner Haruki Oshita. The two singles finalists met again in the quarterfinals of week 2 with Dokai turning the tables on the New Zealander and then going on to win the final over Harry Forsyth (AUS) who had come all the way from qualifying to make the final. Atkinson and Franko made it a double in the doubles winning week two over George Diable and Liam Kindler (AUS) 75 60.
The girls singles was dominated by Xiaotong Wang from China who won both weeks. In week one she upset top seeded Australian Audrey Aulia 75 63 in the final and in the second week beat compatriot Zihao Han 61 61 in a convincing display. Wang also took out the doubles in week two with Australian Shiori Takeda 76 64 over Olivia Collins (AUS) and Ao Tamanaha (JPN). The week one girls doubles was won by the Australian pairing of Mia Princip and Marqaylar Tere.
Not only were there a lot of players with significant qualifying competitions both weeks and players missing out on the opprtunity to play doubles as these events were oversubscribed but the standard was very high for a J30 event. Pacific Oceania players battled hard in their matches but the rewards in terms of wins were hard to come by with no-one progressing beyond the first round. Mia Chang Yuk Shan from Tahiti won her opening match in week one as did compatriot Hiva Kelley in the boys. Deevansh Singh (FIJ) beat Fisher Waita (SOL) in the boys singles after Waita had won throgh qualifying. Roberto Wong (VAN) also had a singles win beating a Japanese qualifier in round one. In the second week La Hun Lam (NMI) was the lone Pacific Oceania singles winner while Hiva Kelley and Fintan Molbaleh won a round in the boys doubles.
Overall, a very successful fortnight of tennis in mainly hot sunny weather. Due to the heat and very even matches it was difficult to complete the full schedule of matches each day on the first three days and it is recommended that the main draw be extended by one day to seven days at future events to spread the first two rounds of singles and doubles across three days.”