Victorian Daniel Jovanovski has claimed a second-consecutive nationwide singles championship on the annual December Showdown.
Melbourne, Australia, 16 December 2023 | Rhys de Deugd
Daniel Jovanovski has repeated his December Showdown triumph of final 12 months, the place he swept the 14-and-under nationwide championships, as he claimed the 2023 16-and-under boys’ singles title.
The Victorian defeated New South Wales’ Chase Zhao in a good 6-4 7-6(3) battle, to grow to be back-to-back December Showdown champion in entrance of a vocal dwelling crowd.
In what was an arm wrestle of a ultimate, there was just one break of serve for the match, which got here at 4-all within the first set.
Jovanovski knew he was in for a troublesome match in opposition to the seventh seed, who he final performed within the quarterfinals of an ITF J30 occasion at New Caledonia in June.
“I knew Chase was a chaser, it’s in his identify,” Jovanovski famous. “He’s an awesome participant, I needed to run him round, and unfold the courtroom a bit bit.”
Aggressive along with his returning, Jovanovski stepped contained in the baseline and got here into the web wherever potential to attempt to dictate the rallies all through the match.
“I felt like I used to be taking the ball early and attempt to cease a little bit of time for him,” he mentioned.
Daniel Jovanovski celebrates his victory over Chase Zhao. Image: Tennis Australia
In entrance of family and friends at Melbourne Park, Jovanovski capped off a memorable December Showdown with some very significant silverware.
“It did really feel nice enjoying out right here,” Jovanovski mentioned.
“That is my hometown, I prepare right here quite a bit and I really like the resurfaced courts, the ball youngsters had been unbelievable and yeah, it’s been nice.”
The 15-year-old additionally competed in final weeks’ 18-and-under occasions, the place he made the quarterfinals of the boys’ singles draw and had some spectacular wins.
“I do know that the 18s was a reasonably large ask, I did tear my stomach final 12 months, so I used the week to prepare for the 16s,” he mentioned.
“Get a really feel for it, benefit from the environment.”
Jovanovski joins a really spectacular listing of names on the 16/u boys’ singles honour roll, together with Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Max Purcell and Alex de Minaur.
When requested to learn out among the earlier winners names engraved on the trophy, the 2023 champion was amazed.
“Wow, I didn’t truly learn all of the names,” Jovanovski mentioned.
“Someday I hope to be identical to them, if not higher.”
Jovanovski later returned within the doubles with Jerome Estephan from New South Wales.
The pair misplaced the semifinal in a match tiebreak in opposition to Victorians Luca Connaughton and Sam Simmonds 6-1 2-6 [10-6].
The unseeded Connaughton and Simmonds had been then defeated within the ultimate New South Wales duo Lachlan McFadzean and Ashton McLeod within the ultimate 2-6 6-4 [10-3].
16/U AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR TOUR MASTERS
TODAY’S RESULTS
Boys’ singles, ultimate
[2] Daniel Jovanovski (Vic) d [7] Chase Zhao (NSW) 6-4 7-6(3)
Boys’ doubles, semifinals
Luca Connaughton (Vic)/Sam Simmonds (Vic) d [1] Jerome Estephan (NSW)/Daniel Jovanovski (Vic) 6-1 2-6 [10-6]
[2] Lachlan McFadzean (NSW)/Ashton McLeod (NSW) d [4] Myron Papadimitrou (NSW)/Chase Zhao (NSW) 6-2 6-4
Boys’ doubles, ultimate
[2] Lachlan McFadzean (NSW)/Ashton McLeod (NSW) v Luca Connaughton (Vic)/Sam Simmonds (Vic) 2-6 6-4 [10-3]
> VIEW: 16/u Australian Junior Tour Masters attracts
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