Dubai : Christian Linge battled past Anthony Popyrin in the under-12 competition of the Bank of Sharjah Junior Tennis Development Series that got under way at the Marbella Resort courts in Sharjah on Monday.
In a gripping three-setter, Linge took on Popyrin for well over two hours to end 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 winner against the Australian.
Popyrin always seemed to be in control as he broke three times to take the first set 6-2. But Linge fought back in the second to draw level with a 6-4 win. Linge then held his focus when it mattered most to walk away winner.
In another close match, Anton Blizniuk edged out Mujahid Khan 6-3, 0-6, 6-2 to make the next stage.
In other under-12 matches, Adham Gabr beat Zen Manwani 6-0, 6-0, Fares Al Janahi defeated Kevin Matthew 6-0, 6-2, Fahad Al Janahi got the better of Faisal Zachariah 6-0, 6-1, Karim Najia and Dhruv Bhal blanked Bharat Amritraj and Douglas Hardy 6-0, 6-0 and Viktor Jovi beat Nabeel Abdul Rahman 6-1, 6-1.
The boy's under-14 competition went as per the seedings with third seed Arjuna Ajay moving into the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Irshaad Patel, while fourth seed Rishabh Ramnath toyed with Syed Hussaini winning 6-0, 6-0.
In other matches, seventh seed Joel Jacob was given a run for his money by Daler Amerbek before winning 6-3, 6-2, while Puneet Varier outplayed Akash Bisht 6-1, 6-1 and Mohammad Al Gawi outgunned Varun Shankar 6-1, 6-0.