Newly crowned Tep Khunnah Memorial Cup girl’s singles champion Daania Daniella Hazli’s budding tennis career is backed by the watchful eyes of her father Abdul Hazli Zainuddin.
A former Malaysian international himself, Hazli is not only Daania’s doting father, but also her manager, her coach, her mentor, her teacher and her biggest fan and critic. For some it may seem overbearing, but Hazli has no qualms about stepping back if it helps her progress.
“If her game gets stagnant under my guidance, I am open for her to train under a different coach,” said Hazli.
Fifteen year-old Daania, who won her second ITF junior title in Phnom Penh, has the chance of winning her third title this week at the J30 Phnom Penh, where she has been given the top billing.
Daania, who had also won the J30 Surabaya ealier this year, will have to navigate Singapore’s Chanya Ng Kai Ning. The second seeded Chanya had beaten Daania at the J30 Singapore final but saw a reverse of fortunes at the Tep Kunnah Memorial Cup.
“I was in fact concerned that she may be struggling to find interest in tennis. Earlier this year, I told her to do some goal setting and was surprised when she said she wanted to turn pro,” said a beaming Hazli.
He added while the target has always been about Daania to reach the pinnacle of women’s tennis, the initial realistic target would be to reach the top 100 first.
Daania herself said that she intends to move up from the juniors to the Futures next season.
“I hope to turn pro within the next three to four years,” said Daania, who will open her campaign at the J30 Phnom Penh against China’s Chen Qingnan in the second round.
Ironically, Daania will partner her singles rival, Chanya, in the girl’s doubles competition. The pair have been seeded number one and will also start their campaign in the second round.
“My dad travels and guides me while my mom takes care of the family business,” added Daania, whose mother Alyaa Nadirah Abdullah @ Alessandra Sarritzu runs the family coaching business that also finances much of her tennis career.
The home-schooled lass, may be missing making friends like most teenagers but she has found good friends with other junior tennis players on the international circuit.
“When I am back, I hang out with my friends back. I am ok with the situation,” added Daania, who spent three weeks in Egypt in late April and early May.
She had reached the singles quarter-finals and doubles semi-finals, with Egyptian partner Jana Youssef, in Dakahlia. She also reached the doubles quarter-finals, with Malak Ismeil, in another competition in Cairo.
Daania reached the singles semi-finals at Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, before winning the South Bavarian Championships in Germany.
In between, Daania also helped Malaysia to finish in ninth position at the Under-16 Billie Jean King Cup final qualifiers in Kazakhstan.
“I am also playing in the Malaysian seniors circuit and have made the singles semis and doubles finals at the KL Open,” said Daania, who idolizes Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka.
“I just love her fierce game on court and good personality off it. Her on-off court persona is just so different,” said Daania.
Daania is expected to represent the national senior side at the Thailand SEA Games next month where she is likely to team up with her elder brother Imran Daniel.
The 20-year-old Imran is currently studying in the USA and plays D1 collegiate tennis for the San Diego College, after previously representing Baylors.
VIREAK UNDONE
Cambodian wild card entrant Vireak Poev gave his all but could not stop Vietnamese Binh Bao Quan Phan from picking up a 6-2, 7-6 (5) first round boys singles match.
He had missed the cut in the final qualifying match at the Tep Khunnah Memorial Cup last week.
Meanwhile, second seeded Joachim Mika Gunawan of Indonesia, bounced back from his opening round defeat last week, with a clinical 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Yefei Song of China.
However, it was the end of the road for sixth seed Ben Archbold of New Zealand. The Kiwi was upstaged by Singapore’s Zachary Sng, who won 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7).
In the boy’s doubles, Korea’s Shin Jaejun-Bon Hong Koo started their campaign for a second title in as many weeks by beating China’s Chen Xiaozheng-He Shunhua 6-2, 6-1.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Boys Singles: Binh Bao Quan Phan (Vie) bt Vireak Poev (Cam) 6-2, 7-6 (5); Takuto Matsuo (Hkg) bt Adibi Rahiman Aqil (Mas) 6-3, 6-1; Fedor Evdokimov (AIN) bt vs. Shi Run Ze (Chn) 6-1, 6-1; Zachary Sng (Sgp) bt Ben Archbold (Nzl) [6] 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7); Ganuka Fernando (Sri) bt Hao Yi Zhang (Chn) 5-2 retired; Yue Yu (Chn) bt Shreyanth Mahanthesha (Ind) 6-0 6-3; Joachim Mika Gunawan (Ina) [2] bt Yefei Song (Chn) 6-3, 6-4; Fanyu Zhao (Chn) bt Se Hun Kim (Kor) 6-3, 6-1
Boys doubles:
Ganuka Fernando-Zachary Sng (Sri-Sgp) [4] bt Malay Keyurbhai Minjrola Keyurbhai Minjrola-Se Hun Kim (Ind-Kor) 4-6, 6-4,10-4; Shin Jaejun-Bon Hong Koo (Kor) bt Xiaozheng Chen-Shunhua He (Chn) 6-2, 6-1; Kim Kyungone (Kor)-Jonathan Roth (Kor-Aut) bt Ruhan Komandur-Prachanda Komarla (Ind-Aus) 6-2, 6-4; Ethan Matthew Koh-Takuto Matsuo (Sgp-Hkg) bt Joshua Chung-Shaun Tung Hur Kok (USA-Mas) 6-2, 6-3
Girls Singles: Qingan Chen (Chn) bt Anamya Dubey (Ind) 6-1, 6-1; Qingan Chen (Chn) Bt Anamya Dubey (Ind) 6-1, 6-1; Hanyu Wang (Chn) bt Nadine Ashlee Tio (Ina) 6-1, 6-0; Niyati Hiranandani Bhandari (Ind) bt Miku Matsuo (Jpn) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; Ha-An Park (Kor) bt Regina Lawmkimi Bawitlung (Ind) 6-1, 6-1; Riya Gangamma Pudiyokkada (Ind) bt Mathea Heje (Nor) 6-4, 7-5; Hannah Giam (Sgp) bt Zican Yang (Chn) 6-3, 6-3; Youwen Shi (Chn) bt Milanesa Briana Susanto (Ina) 6-0, 6-1; Kayla Wong (Sgp) bt Naomi Gracelyn Tio (Ina) 6-1, 6-3
