American teenager David Beckles came from behind to win the J60 Accra boys’ singles title for a second time, beating France’s Antoine Baudot in three sets at the National Tennis Centre, Accra Sports Stadium. After dropping the opening set 6-3, Beckles turned the match around with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory on Sunday.
Baudot started strong, taking the first set with aggressive play. But Beckles responded in the second set by sharpening his groundstrokes and serving more effectively. He kept the pressure on in the final set to complete the comeback and add another ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors trophy to his record in Accra.
Earlier in the tournament, Beckles had a straight-sets win over Ghana’s Kingsley Alormenu, beating him 6-0 6-4 in the semi-finals. Baudot reached the final after defeating Mannan Ashok Agarwal 7-6 (5) 6-1.
The J60 tournament brought together junior players from Ghana and abroad, organised by the Tennis Foundation Ghana alongside the Ghana Tennis Federation. The event ran at the Accra Sports Stadium, where local fans followed the matches closely.
Beckles’ second J60 title in Accra comes just before the city hosts a higher-tier J100 tournament from 28 September to 3 October. That event will give junior players another chance to earn ranking points and gain international experience on Ghanaian soil. The rise of tournaments like these in Accra reflects growing interest in tennis among young players in the region.
Beckles’ win confirms his ability to compete and succeed on the international junior circuit. His comeback in the final showed resilience and tactical adjustments mid-match, qualities that will serve him well as he advances his career.
According to Joy Online.
