27 June 2011 | Tennis Queensland

Rising star Benjamin Mitchell has claimed his second ITF Pro Tour title this year with an impressive performance in Melilla, Spain.

Mitchell was pushed to three sets by fellow Queenslander Michael Look (Scarborough, Qld) in the quarterfinals and enjoyed a walkover in the semifinals against third seed Michael Ryderstedt (SWE) before producing an impressive straight sets victory against local favourite Roberto Ortega-Olmedo (ESP) in the final, 6-3 6-1.

Currently ranked No. 418 in the world, the result marked Mitchell’s best result abroad on the ITF Pro Tour to date and added to his maiden title in South Australia earlier this year.

“This is a great result for Ben and fully deserved after some great work on the practice courts in the last three weeks,” said AIS tennis head coach Brent Larkham.

“He had lost a few close matches recently and this will put those out of his mind.

“Ben will now join the training camp for the Davis Cup squad in England, and I’m sure he has his sights set on making the team as soon as possible.”

As a junior, Mitchell broke into the ITF world top 20 in July 2010 after reaching the final of Junior Wimbledon last year.