Leon is a name of Greek origin symbolizing strength and courage of a lion. And for Singaporean junior tennis player Leon Ho Wei Xi familial bond is part of what makes him tick more than just strength and courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leon was the runners-up in the boy\u2019s singles competition at the ATF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am very close to my siblings,\u201d said the 13-year-old, who was a semi-finalist with his brother Luke Ho at the ITF J30 Manila last November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The brothers were also the quarter-finalists at the ITF J30 Singapore last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlaying with him helped me gain my first ITF ranking points. I hope to bring it down this year,\u201d said Leon, who currently has an ITF junior ranking of 3082 with his brother ranked 402.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At last week\u2019s final, Leon was beaten 3-6, 1-6 by Vietnam\u2019s Le Phu Gia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe was more solid and patient. When the rallies grew longer I was not patient and made the mistakes,\u201d said Leon, who hopes to make another good run in Week 2 and perhaps win this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The support from his sister Laetitia Ho and parents Kok Sen Ho and Cynthia Kew has also been instrumental in his budding career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy mom was with me here (Phnom Penh) last week but had to go back on some urgent matters, She will be back in a few days hopefully to see me in the semi-finals,\u201d added Leon, who has been a member of the Singaporean national junior team since 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leon, the current Singapore U-16 singles champion and his Anglo Chinese schoolmate Nicholas Ming are also down to play in the doubles in Phnom Penh. Last week they were beaten 4-6, 4-6 in the finals by Vietnams\u2019 Vu Thuan Phong-Phu Gia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leon and Nicholas were also part of the island nation squad at the World Junior Tennis, Asia Oceania qualifying tournament in Sarawak, Malaysia last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leon, who had also won the Singapore national Under-14 singles title in 2024, hopes to represent Singapore at the SEA Games and Davis Cup in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to play more in the ITF circuit and eventually in the D1 and collegiate tennis,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leon currently trains under the watchful eyes of coach Isaac Ong, a former Singaporean national player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The youngster understands the need to put in the work in the coming years by training harder to achieve his goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just love eating and used to be chubby. But now I am leaner, signs of puberty,\u201d he jested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like his tennis idol Jannik Sinner, the three-time Grand Slam champion, Leon believes his serve and backhand are his biggest strength in his game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These weapons helped Leon, who also enjoys playing pool and table tennis, to win both the singles and doubles titles at the ATF Under 14 in Singapore last December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the second seed, Leon was given a bye in the first round of the singles draw and will begin his campaign this week in Phnom Penh tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n