JEDDAH, 12 November 2003 — The Panasonic Junior Tennis Circuit, which set off with a schedule of four matches at Sharbatly Village on Friday, has advanced to new rounds.

Results of intermediate singles (14 years and under) involving the seeds on the opening day were: Mohamed Shaaban beat Christina Isshak (8-0), Marc Darouni beat Wael Khafaji (8-3), Daniel Fenton beat Tariq Attar (8-5), Tamer Attar beat Sreekanth Sahiti (8-1), Sami Zheiman beat Dima bint Hassan (8-0), Nasri Majdalani beat Yamout Karim (8-2), Frederick Larsson beat Rita Isshak (8-1) and Omar Arnaoudi beat Donnah Toumeh (8-3).

In the beginners category (10 years and under), Tabea Stiegelmeier beat Luai Sherif Gazzi (6-1) and Christian Penafiel beat Layla Khan (6-0).

On the second day of the tournament, Hussein El Haj had a walkover from Maruschka Neville, Heidi Ghaffari beat Alaa Khafaji (6-0), both in the beginners category.

In the intermediate category, Ahmed El-Salaam won over Andre Olegario (8-6), Siddharth Kumar beat Philip Darouni (8-6), Ahmed Amir Mostafa beat Adolph Olegario (8-6), Andre Ciganik beat Shivansh Kumar (8-3), Raymond Fenton beat Uzma Ahmed (8-1).

Sunday results in the beginners category: C. Loloah got through the second round by Osama Abed’s no-show and Ashley Fitzpatrick won over Hussein Alaa Elwy (6-2).

In the second round of the intermediate category, a major upset was staged by Marc Darouni who convincingly proved difficult against the No. 1 seed Mohamed Shaaban (8-2), Karl Anghelopoulos was outclassed by Nourhan Shaaban (2-8), Raghav Ramabadran won over Marwan Ahmed (8-1), Mostafa Sherif beat Loloah Chamoun (8-4) and Daniel Fenton defeated Tamer Attar (8-3).

“There were some major upsets from the draw so far in the intermediate category,” tournament referee Francis Idjao said. Matches for the advance category however saw no upsets from among the seeded players as Mikko Calauag won convincingly against Anisha D’Cruz (8-5).

Idjao said winners of the tournament would receive circuit points to be carried over onto the next leg.

Champions will get 300 points, finalists 150 points, semifinalists 75 points and quarterfinalists 35 points.

Serge Taga, chairman of Jeddah Tennis Organization (JeTO), which is staging the circuit, said the event was the fourth activity from among many tennis schedules on hand for this year.

“A lot of events are in the process of finalization for next year’s calendar of activities,” he added.

According to tournament director Jovie Llevares, the tournament, a Ramadan event, has entered its fourth day.

In all 60 boys and girls playing at the junior level have been divided into five categories, with singles and doubles matches, according to Roberto Saavedra, a professional coach and chairman of the tournament committee of JeTO said.

“The tournament is part of the JeTO’s program to promote tennis at the grassroots level,” Reggie Sanosa, tournament referee and member of the JeTO board, said.

This is the fourth tournament the JeTO organizes within some months of its establishment.

It celebrates its first anniversary on Feb. 27.