Bucket of water changes Bay tennis player's fortunes
It's amazing what a bucket of cold water can do ... just ask promising Hawke's Bay tennis player Saul Emile Ramonteu-Chiros.
The 12-year-old Havelock North club player who is ranked 31st on the national under-12 rankings was beaten 6-3, 7-5 by the 25th ranked Aucklander Ethan Eri Xin Zhang in the semifinals of the under-14 singles during Thursday's first day of play at the Hawke's Bay Junior Open in Napier.
Two days later right hander Ramonteu-Chiros who took up tennis five years ago beat Zhang 7-5, 7-5 in the final of the under-12 singles. Reflecting on his changing fortunes in singles play at the four-day Kennedy Park Resort-sponsored tournament, Ramonteu-Chiros, was quick to heap kudos on Tennis Eastern development officer Sean Davies.
"Sean gave me heaps of positive advice and he also poured a bucket of cold water over my head as the heat was starting to take its toll on most of the players by day three," Ramonteu-Chiros explained.
Davies pointed out how much progress Ramonteu-Chiros has made since being coached by former Kiwi No 1 Dan Willman for the past two years.
"In the past Saul used to get upset with himself when he lost a point. These days he is more resilient."
A big fan Spanish star, Ramonteu-Chiros, combined with Wairarapa's William Samuel Orsborn to win the under-12 doubles title today. Ramonteu-Chiros and Greendale's Tavian Roberts finished second to Havelock North's Louie Farrier and Central Hawke's Bay's Zuriel Krister Paulsen in the under-14 doubles.
A Havelock North Intermediate School Year 8 student, Ramonteu-Chiros, hopes to secure a United States college tennis scholarship before the end of his secondary school days and his long-term goal is to turn professional.
Davies was thrilled with the 104 entries received for the tournament. Thirteen Hawke's Bay players are in Christchurch for the national age group championships and this was the first year for at least five no Aussie players entered with the Covid-19 pandemic the main reason for their absence.
Other Hawke's Bay title winners at the tournament were:
10 Years boys singles division two: Hunter Reed (Havelock North).
14 Years boys singles division two: Harry Reed (Havelock North).
12 Years boys singles division one: Harry Reed (Havelock North).
12 Years boys singles division two: Cooper Ellingham (CHB).
16 Years boys singles: Charlie Titter (Greendale).
17 Years boys singles: Max Clifford (Hawke's Bay Lawn).
14 Years girls singles division one: Zoe Driscoll (Havelock North).
12 Years girls singles division one: Vanshika Prasad (Greendale).
12 Years girls singles: Mansi Giri (Greendale).
14 Years girls singles: Belle Kinnear (Havelock North).
12 Years girls doubles: Emma Madeline Baker and Aimee Evans (both CHB).
14 Years girls doubles: Mansi Giri (Greendale) and Hannah Hoffman (Manawatu).
12 Years boys doubles division one: Kian Jai Burkett (Hawke's Bay Lawn) and Kopa Hauraki Manahi (Bay of Plenty).
14 Years boys doubles: Louie Farrier (Havelock North) and Zuriel Krister Paulsen (CHB).
