* Takashi also in line for doubles title
Malaysia’s Takashi Koey stayed on course for the boys’ singles title in the sixth edition of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) championships being played at the Likas Tennis Courts in Kota Kinabalu.
In the quarter-finals on Friday the Malaysian of Malaysian-Japanese parentage defeated compatriot Muhammad Aiman Hamdan 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals.
In the second round Takashi had ripped through compatriot Muhammad Aiman Hamdan with a 6-4, 6-2 win.
Second seeded Nor Suhaii Sallahudin ended Luke Guansing’s gallant run in the championships with a 6-1, 6-2 win. Luke had upset 8th seed Mohd Syabil Saharudin with a 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4 win in the second round.
Third seed Darshan Suresh gave Malaysia plenty to cheer when he marched into the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Japan’s Yota Togawa who had upset Aznor Azri on Thursday.
Takashi is also in line for the doubles. He and partner Christian Andre Liew beat the Sabah pair of Rishab Notaney and Leroy Yong 6-3,6-1.
In the semi-finals they will meet Aiman Hamdan-Darshan Suresh who outplayed Chieng Shoa Wei-Jimmy Liong Kai Long 6-3, 6-3.
Second seeds Suhail Salahudin- Aiman Shaharudin defeated beat Nicholas Sim Liang Thai-Mitchel Brapui Tidan of Sarawak 6-0, 6-4. The pair will meet Mohd Faris Abdul Rashid-Nurhazmi Khaidir who upset 3rd seeds Aznor Azri- M Zhahirul Zaman 6-2 , 6-0.
Mitchel Brapui Tidan’s defeat put an end to his hopes of winning at least one title in the ATF meet. He lost in the second round in the singles event.
The Dayak has been a star attraction at Likas with his free-flowing long hair – which is a meter long. According to him Mitchel his long hair is no hindrance to his game on the court and has no intention of cutting it short.
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