Machac crowned singles champion

Eighteen-year-old Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic yesterday became the latest champion to be crowned at Bahrain Tennis Club’s (BTC) annual International Tennis Federation (ITF) showcase. Machac clinched the Men’s Singles title in the $15,000 Bahrain ITF World Tennis Tour 2019 after defeating fourth seed Tim Van Rijthoven of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3 in an exciting final played in gusty conditions. The championship battle was the first meeting between the two finalists and it marked a fitting ending to an entire week’s display of top-class tennis action at the BTC hardcourts in Juffair.

“I feel very happy for this win; this is a perfect moment for me as I didn’t expect this result against such a tough opponent,” said Machac, who claimed his first title of 2019 on this year’s ITF men’s calendar. Van Rijthoven, aged 21, added: “He was just too good today. You always want to win, but reaching the final of a tournament like this is still a very good result overall.”

Machac and Van Rijthoven have presented their respective trophies in an awarding ceremony held right after their match. Handing over the glittering silverware were Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Ayman Tawfiq Almoayyed, His Majesty the King’s Youth and Sports Advisor Saleh Isa bin Hindi, Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF) Vice-President Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Bahrain Olympic Committee Secretary General Mohammed Hassan Al Nusuf, and BTC President Khamis Al Muqla.

Also on hand at the awarding were former BTF President Dr. Tawfiq Almoayyed, BTC Board Member Dr. Faisal Al Mosawi, Bahrain Duty-Free Head of Business Support Sujat Ameen, Ebrahim K Kanoo Senior Manager of Toyota and Lexus Marketing Ayman Shehadeh, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Royal Thai Embassy Thanis Na Song Khla.