MALAYSIA'S current crop of tennis players could end the nation's wait for a genuine star in the sport.
Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam, Syed Agil Syed Naguib and Ahmad Deedat Abd Razak are among Malaysia's top juniors but the one who could make it far is the big-hitting Assri Merzuki.Assri, who turns 18 in December, earned admirers when he played his first ever tour event in the singles first round qualifiers of the ATP Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
He displayed great skills and fighting spirit before losing 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to doubles specialist Treat Conrad Huey of the Philippines.
The Kuching-born, a member of the national Davis Cup team, however, is better in doubles and proved it by winning a Futures event with Romanian Gabriel Moraru in Indian Harbour Beach last year, making him one of the few Malaysians to have won an international event in recent years.
"I was excited about my singles match as it was my first ever appearance in a tour event. I did well by winning a set to level the match against Huey. It has given me the confidence," said Assri, who is based in Florida.
Assri, sponsored by the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association, will renew his partnership with Syed Aqil to play former champions Mariusz Fyrstenberg-Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the doubles first round tomorrow.
"Syed Agil and I have won many local junior tournaments but we have not played together since I left for Florida two years ago. We are good friends and I am really looking forward to renew my partnership with him.
"We have been practising hard together for this match and I also do not think we will have any problems in terms of on-court understanding.
"It will be tough playing the former champions but we will try our best to give them a good fight," said Assri.
Results: Qualifying (2nd rd) - Julian Knowles (Aut) bt Toshihide Matsui (Jpn) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Michael Yani (US) bt Sanam Singh (Ind) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Dominic Inglot (Bri) bt Austin Karosi (US) 6-2, 6-2; Riccardo Ghedin (Ita) bt Treat Conrad Huey (Phi) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
1st round: Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam (Mas) v Igor Sijsling (Ned), Qualifier v Jimmy Wang (Tai), Jurgen Melzer (Aut) v Vasek Pospisil (Can), Qualifier v Brian Baker (US). - www.nst.com.my
