Asciak 39th in Euro rankings

The Malta Tennis Federation have just been informed by the European Tennis Federation that junior player Matthew Asciak has a ranking of 39 in the continental U-14 category.

The federation has intensified its focus on the promotion of talented youth players in its fold over the past couple of years. It's the best investment for the game's future, they contend and rightly so. In the boys' category, Malta never had a junior player who enjoyed such a high ranking on the international scene.

Asciak, 13, has another year to go in the same category as he can still play in U-14 in 2004.

His ranking is impressive indeed considering that most of the players ahead of him in the European junior list are all on the verge of moving to a higher age bracket.

This year was a very good one for Asciak having collected a gold and three silver medals in ITF/ETA U-14 tournaments for small states. He also won the U-14 European Tennis Federation tournament held at Tennis Club Kordin and was a finalist in another similar event, but for U-16s, played at the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club.

Asciak has been playing regularly in tennis tournaments since early June, gaining useful experience which is the key to his significant progress in the European junior rankings.

The Malta Tennis Federation will continue to strive to nurture talented Juniors as this is the best investment for their future.