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Aus Open boy's champ Yuki aims to play with men

Updated on: 01 February,2009 06:06 AM IST |
AFP |

Yuki Bhambri blitzed Germany's Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas to become India's first Australian Open junior champion on Saturday

Yuki Bhambri returns to Alexander Georgoudas of Germany during the boy's singles final of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday. Bhambri won 6-3. 6-1. pics/AFP

The 16-year-old New Delhi native completely outplayed his opponent 6-3, 6-1 in the boys' singles final, making him one of the most exciting prospects in years.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, Bhambri plans to switch out of juniors and onto the senior circuit as soon as possible.

"Winning the Australian Open is obviously a very big achievement, regardless of being the first Indian," said Bhambri.

"But I dreamed of winning it, and it's come true.

"Even if I wouldn't have won it, I had already planned to focus more on men's tournaments, playing more in the men's circuit."

Meanwhile, young Russian Ksenia Pervak claimed the girl's title, beating British junior Wimbledon champion Laura Robson 6-3, 6-1.

Russia's Pervak, 17, regularly trains with world number 17 Anna Chakvetadze and credited that with helping her pull through against Robson.

"I practice sometimes with Chakvetadze because we had the same coach for five years, so that helped," she said.

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