7 November 2012 | Tennis Queensland

Kimberly Birrell (Hope Island, Qld) and Akira Santillan (Surfers Paradise, Qld) wins titles at the Sydney junior International claimed the Sydney Junior International.

Ninth seeded Birrell defeated [6] Pamela Boyanov (Cherrybrook, NSW) 6-4 2-6 6-4 to collect her first ITF junior title.

A week earlier the 14-year-old took home her first nationals title when she won the Optus 14s Spring Nationals girls’ event.

“It feels amazing. I was really surprised. I played so well at the nationals. I thought it was going to be tough to back it up but I did,” said Birrell after her win.

“After the second set I was concentrating on being really positive and trying to move my feet a lot. I don’t think I started playing better, I think my attitude just changed,” added Birrell.

In the boys’ singles final, Santillan was too strong for his doubles partner Oliver Anderson (Yeronga, Qld), outclassing him 6-3 6-1 to also win his first ITF junior singles title.

Both players claimed significant victories in the semi finals, dismissing top seed Mitchell Pritchard (Bomaderry, NSW) and second seed Matthew Tanza (Carlingford, NSW) respectively.

Santillan made it a double victory when he and Anderson defeated Pritchard and Adam Hecimovic (Leumeah, NSW) to win the boys’ doubles title 6-4 6-2.