Yuki Bhambri wins Dunlop Orange Bowl 18s titles by dreamtennis Jan 30, 2009

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - India’s Yuki Bhambri reminded everyone that there’s still an enormous amount of international talent to be reckoned with, as he stormed to the Boys’ 18s on Sunday at the Crandon Park Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Fla. Bhambri, a talented 16-year-old, became the first player from India to ever win the Dunlop Orange Bowl, as the No. 2 seed exhibited remarkable consistency in defeating 18-year-old Jarmere Jenkins of College Park, Ga., 6-1, 6-3. Jenkins - who’d been an incredibly hot player entering the match and at times this week left the impression that there wasn’t a shot he couldn’t hit - was unable to find any sort of rhythm against Bhambri, the No. 4 player in the ITF World Junior Rankings. Bhambri, known as extremely heady player, demonstrated incredible shot-making ability, as he executed a wide variety of baseline winners, drop shots and lobs to keep Jenkins off balance. “It feels really great, and it’s an honor to be the first player from India to win this title,” said Bhambri, who also won an ITF Grade A event in October at the Osaka Mayor’s Cup in Japan. “Jarmere’s played some unbelievable tennis this week, and he’s so quick on the court that I just needed to execute my shots and try my best to keep him off balance.” Both Bhambri and Jenkins were also contesting the doubles final, as Bhambri attempted to sweep the Boys’ 18s singles and doubles titles for the first time since Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina in 1995. Jenkins, however, wasn’t about to let that happen, as he and partner Devin Britton of Jackson, Miss., pulled out a very tight first set against Bhambri and Chase Buchanan of New Albany, Ohio, and then rolled to victory, 7-6(9), 6-2. It was the second international title in as many weeks for Britton and Jenkins, who also won the Boys’ 18s doubles title at the Eddie Herr International last week. 62nd Annual Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships Crandon Park Tennis Center Key Biscayne, Florida December 7-14, 2008 Final Results Boys’ 18s Singles – Final (2) Yuki Bhambri, India, def. Jarmere Jenkins, College Park, Ga., 6-1, 6-3 Boys’ 18s Doubles – Final (7) Devin Britton, Jackson, Miss., and Jenkins, def. (1) Bhambri and Chase Buchanan, New Albany, Ohio, 7-6(7), 6-2