RIYADH, 17 May — Talented teenagers 17-year-old Hassan Ahmed and 14-year-old Aamer Javed combined to win the first Riyadh Palm and Country and Gold Club Amateurs Open Doubles Title. The match was played at the Inter.Continental Hotel Tennis Courts.
They won the finals easily against their much-experienced opponents Robert Angeles and Namar Villard 6-3, 6-3. This was Aamer’s second Palm Open Title as he won the singles championship in October 2001.
Aamer and Hassan played a fast and aggressive game with hard serves and crisp volleys. They also attacked well from the baseline with well-placed shots against the efforts of their opponents to slow the game down. Aamer and Hassan won earlier beating F. Ulan and R. Miaflour 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals.
In the Professional Final, Baqar Abu Khalif and Omar Al-Thaqib won the title against Simon Palfreyman and Meic Thomas 6-4, 7-6 (7-2). Baqar and Omar played an aggressive serve and volley game and dazzled the crowd with their speed. Earlier in the semifinals, Thomas and Palfreyman had combined well to defeat the ranked team of Othman Al-Enezi and Alvin Obreo in a three setter. In the Over 40s finals, Salim Bitar and Samih Jaber beat Auby Van Sertima and Reinert Sonneraud 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Auby and Reinert won the first set but were worn down by their steady opponents and by the heat.
The tournament director Meic Thomas stated that 108 players competed playing in 3 categories — Amateurs, Professionals and Over-40s. The tournament was sponsored by the Saudi Hollandi Bank, Coca-Cola, Safari Travel, Racquet Shop and the Riyadh Inter.Continental Hotel. The prizes were distributed by Mike Robertson, Recreation Manager of the Inter.Continental Hotel, Syed of Safari Travels, Joe from Coca-Cola and Saeed from the Racquet Shop.
