Sonton, Sanada win 12/u Australian titles
Queenslander Hana Sonton has stormed to the 12/u Australian Championships girls' title while the boys' event was won by Japan's Shogo Sanada.
Melbourne VIC, Australia, 17 December 2017 | tennis.com.au
Queensland youngster Hana Sonton has completed an impressive week at Melbourne Park with victory in the 12/u Australian Championships final on Sunday.
Sonton, the No.2 seed, defeated New Caledonia’s Clara Cwajgenbaum 6-2 6-1.
She didn’t drop a set all week; her toughest test came in the semifinals against No.14 seed Sydney Stone, a match she won 6-3 7-6(3).
“I felt very excited and nervous at the same time but I guess it was the final,” Sonton said.
“It’s not my first national title. I won the grasscourt nationals this year.
“I tried to do all sorts of things, I tried to finish the point off early by going in and doing drive volleys and volleys; that way you can take time off her. I thought it was better to play aggressively.”
Not content to rest on her laurels, the ambitious Sonton already has her eye on the future.
“Next year I think I will be playing 14s. I guess it will be harder and more challenging but I think my goal will be to make the quarter finals in the 14s,” she said.
In the boys’ final, Japan’s Shogo Sanada overcame West Australian Zachary Viiala.
It was a battle between the top two seeds, with No.1 seed Sanada recovering from a set down to complete a 3-6 6-2 6-3 triumph.
Like Sonton, Sanada did not drop a set en route to the final, but found the title match a tough test.