Dubai: Filipino teenager Kirk Rebuyas and Marwan Al Kaissi were the two UAE-based players qualifying into the main draw of the boy's singles at the ninth Dubai ITF Juniors Tennis being played at the Dubai Tennis Stadium yesterday.

Seeded second in the qualifying draw, Rebuyas, who trains with Australian player Troy Gillman, breezed to a 6-4, 6-2 win against Iran's Sina Adabi on a hot, sweltering afternoon.

He was joined later in the evening by Marwan Al Kaissi, who trains at Al Wasl Club under Jean Francois Danican.

Iraq's Al Kaissi, who has been one of prominent juniors on the UAE scene, won a gruelling 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win against a gritty Jannis Koeke, who had been seeded fourth in the qualifiers.

Amirvala Madanchi could have become the third UAE lad to make it into the main competition, but he fell in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 2-6 against wily Syed Zohair Raza of Pakistan in the final qualifier yesterday evening.

Also making it into the main rounds that starts today was Germany's Till Richter after securing a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 6-3 against Sweden's Rickard Strand.

Maiden entry

Making his second appearance at this annual ITF Grade IV tournament, Rebuyas secured his maiden entry into the main competition with a 6-4, 6-2 result. "I have not been playing against too many juniors recently and that did have an effect on my game," Rebuyas told Gulf News.

Having crossed the first hurdle of getting into the main competition, Rebuays is not too worried about how he will fare once the main competition starts today.

"There aren't many juniors in the UAE against whom I can play, so I am forced to train and play against the senior players here. However, I am getting used to it and should be able to do well," said the Filipino who turns 16 in December.

The last two qualifiers in the girls competition were also decided yesterday evening, although in contrasting ways. While Italy's Deborah Chiesa won 6-0, 6-0 against her Swedish opponent Elisabeth Strand, American Anna Wierda was made to work hard for her 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win against Dayana Sedova from Uzbekistan.

Egypt's Naglaa Gabr and Abu Dhabi-based Aslina Chua of Malaysia had already qualified to the main draw.

The draw for the main competition was held later yesterday evening and play in the girls and boys singles will get under way from 9am at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Results

Boys' qualifying: Kirk Rebuyas bt Sina Adabi 6-4, 6-2; Till Richter bt Rickard Strand 7-6 (5), 6-2; Marwan Al Kaissi bt Jannis Koeke 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Syed Zohair Raza bt Amirvala Madanchi 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Girls' qualifying: Deborah Chiesa bt Elisabeth Strand 6-0, 6-0; Anna Wierda bt Dayana Sedova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.