Aleksander Mikheichev @ Sasha
Unassuming teenager Aleksander Mikheichev holds the hopes of Cambodia at the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex.
The 13-year-old, who hails from Russia and now playing for the Kingdom, is the only seeded Cambodian at the qualifying tournament that has attracted 12 countries from three Asian regions – South, East and South East.
Mikheichev or Sasha as he affectionally known among his peers, is seeded third and will open his singles campaign against Pakistan’s Muaz Shahbaz in the second round tomorrow.
Sasha picked up tennis when he was in Russia but has been honing his skills predominantly in Cambodia.
His dad, who ironically also shares his name Aleksander and mom Nadezhda migrated to Cambodia together with his elder sister Ekaterina when he was just six-years-old.
He also played in the boy’s doubles first round today, but he and partner Mean Sophanith were beaten 4-6, 2-6 by the Bangladeshi duo of Rafi Al-Islam Md Jobair.
“The singles draw has not been lucky for me. It is a tough draw,” said Sasha, who is still looking to give his best and win the title.
The tournament whilst being played as an individual competition, will see the top two nations with the most points qualifying for the Finals later next year.
He is drawn in the bottom half and if the matches go as per seedings, he will be up against Vietnam’s Vu Tuan in the quarter-finals.
“My strength is my consistency. My weakness…can I give it to you after the tournament,” said Sasha when asked about his game strength and weakness.
The youngster, who also loves to play chess, prefers to keep his cards close to his chest.
“I am online for classes until three everyday and by four I am on court training,” said the lad, who belied his size.
Last November, he clinched the ATF Under-14 C2 Colombo Week 2 Tennis Tournament singles title. Sasha outclassed Cameron Prattley of Hong Kong in a stunning straight-sets victory, 6-2, 6-0, showing his all-round consistency and attacking game. The Cambodian player dominated from the baseline, using his strong serve and accurate returns to seal the match in quick time.
“My biggest success so far must the win in Qatar last year,” said the teenager, who wants to be an architect.
He won the Qatar Asian Junior U14 singles title with a polished 6-1, 6-4 final win over Egyptian Hassan Ghriari.
While the pressure may rattle many other younger players, Sasha is taking it at a time.
“I am enjoying tennis as it is for now,” said the pragmatic youngster.
Meanwhile, all the Cambodian players in action on the opening day of the tournament were shown the exit. It was not for the lack of trying but for their inexperience in playing at this level.
Mean Sophanith was the only player to stretch his fast tiring opponent but did not have the arsenal to stop Laotian Sanaxay Chansomphou from winning the first round tie 6-2, 4-6, 2-6.
Meanwhile, Tennis Cambodia secretary Rithivit Tep said that the organisation will strive to continue hosting more international tournaments to help develop the Cambodian players as well as a sports tourism endeavour.
“We had only a short notice to host this tournament and the number of teams participating here will showcase Cambodia to the rest of the world,” said Tep.
Teams from Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Bangladesh are entered for the tournament.
TODAY’S GALLERY OF ACTION
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
BOYS SINGLES: Sanaxay Chansomphou (Lao) bt Mean Sophanith (Cam) 6-2, 4-6, 2-6; Dudu Tenzin (Bhu) bt Xavier Brito Zenido (Tls) 6-1, 6-0; Rafi Al (Ban) bt Batsaikhan Munkhochir (Mgl) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Muaz Muhammad (Pak) bt Islam Md Jobair (Ban) 6-2, 6-2; Tshering Pelthop (Bhu) bt Urnukh Munkhireedui (Mgl) 6-4, 6-4; Salaam Yousuf Zaain (Mdv) bt Martins da Sliva Jovanio (Tls) 6-0, 6-0; Yangchen Sumeru (Bhu) bt Morn Makara (Cam); Phoupha Chantavong (Lao) bt Joel Lim (Bru) 6-2, 6-0
BOYS DOUBLES: Muaz Muhammad-Gill Muhammad Ibraheem (Pak) bt Mohamed Alson Saame-Zalaam Yousuf Zaain (Mdv) 6-1, 6-1; Sanaxay Chansomphou-Phoupha Chantavong (Lao) bt Urnukh Munkhireedui-Batsaikhan Munkhochir (Mgl) 6-4, 7-5; Rafi Al-Islam Md Jobair (Ban) bt Aleksander Mikheichev-Mean Sophanith (Cam) 6-4, 6-2
GIRLS SINGLES: Munkhbayar Khuslen (Mgl) bt Esther Srun Chomnith (Cam) 6-0, 6-1; Mastora Afrin (Ban) bt Chantaphone Silivert (Lao) 6-2, 6-4; Adama Asiata Enkhzaya (Mgl) bt Shafeeu Isra Aara Ibrahim (Mdv) 6-0, 6-0; Howlader Jannat (Ban) bt Manixone Phommavong (Lao) 6-1, 6-0; Khalil Khajida (Pak) bt Dos Santos Lopes Vinca Maria (Tls) 6-0, 6-1; Rabbi Eesha (Pak) bt Yidhenma Yithro Yitshog (Bhu) 6-0, 6-0
GIRLS DOUBLES: Mastora Afrin-Howlader Jannat (Ban) bt Chantaphone Silivet-Manixone Phommavong (Lao) 6-1, 6-2; Hameed Kanza Ismail-Shafeeu Isra Aara Ibrahim (Mdv) bt Morn Makara-Esther Srun Chomnith (Cam) 6-0, 6-0; Rabbi Eesha-Khalil Khajida (Pak) bt Soares Ofelia-Do Santos Lopes Vinca M (Tls) 6-1, 6-4
