JEDDAH, 25 October — Ahmed El-Mehelmy once again proved he is the number one player in Jeddah with a convincing win over Fahmi Salah in the recently concluded 12th Perrier Open Tennis Classic, held at the Albilad Hotel Courts.
Mehelmy took control of the match from the first game using his trade mark power play. Power full top spin backhands and forehand ground strokes combined together with accurate volleys were just to much for Fahmi as he lost the fIrst set in just over half an hour 6-0.
This was the fIrst time Fahmi had entered into the final of this most prestigious event and at the start of the second set he seemed to gain more confidence taking an early lead 2-0. It was not long however until Ahmed found his form and came storming back to win the next 6 games in a row to lift the title for the second consecutive year 6-0, 6-2 oIn the " B " singles category Albilad’s Lauy Zafe lost to one of Jeddah’s newcomers Fernando Forte, Femando took the first set with relative ease 6-1.
The second set seemed to be going to Larry as he took a 3-0 lead as Forte seemed to slow down his game. At the start of the fourth game however Forte then moved up a gear to take the next 6 games to finally lift the trophy 6-0, 6-3. oIn the Saudi singles category Fahmi Salah made up for his loss against Mehelmy by taking the crown for the second year in a row with a two straight sets win over Hatem Jawi 6-2, 6-3.
Fahmi had been playing on a regular basis prior to the event at the Trio Ranch Country Club and was in good shape for his games.
The men’s " C " singles category was won by Saudi national Sumai Ounallah over Filipino national Nilo Loremia, this was a close fought battle all the way with Sumai finally taking the title in the third set 7- 6.
The two Junior category winners Tariq Attas in the 12 years and under event and Colin Dektar in the 16 years and under category were the expected winners. Colin took on Sanjeet Periera, while Tariq took on Omar El Anoudy. The prize giving ceremony held at the Albilad Hotel Poolside was attended by the Salem Basamh, from Basamh Trading Co, the sponsors of the event and distributors of the world famous Perrier water sparkling with life, Yousef Ageel the general manager of the Albilad Hotel. Rafi Ahmed Khan, marketing coordinator of Basamh Trading Co. and Bob ‘all smiles’ Wilson the recreation manager of the Albilad Hotel.
