Dimech beats Klemenc to reach final

Malta's upcoming tennis player Rosanne Dimech yesterday maintained her positive streak of late after beating Slovenia's Urska Klemenc in a very tight semi-final to reach the San Michel ITF junior world ranking tournament girls' final at Marsa SC.

Earlier this month, Dimech won the International Open at the Vittoriosa Lawn Tennis Club.

Yesterday, she stayed on course for a repeat of another prestigious title when beating Klemenc 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, also showing that the training scheme provided by the Malta Tennis Federation to its junior players is starting to bear fruit and yielding good results in international competitions.

Dimech, partnered by Swede Anna Victoria Lind, is also a finalist in the girls' doubles today.

Playing under the watchful eyes of national coach Dusan Janicevic and MTF Junior Section official Benny Vidal, played at a par with her opponent and won a thrilling first set after clinching the tie-break 7-4. The second set was similarly balanced but in the end Dimech's resilience prevailed.

This afternoon, she plays the final against another strong Slovenian player Ana Jerman. The latter yesterday trounced Pavlina Akritas, of Cyprus, 6-1 6-2 to reach the final.

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that discussions are already underway between MTF president Peter Zammit and Tennis Section chairman Godwin Borg in view of the 2004 edition. In all probability, the same ITF event will again be played at the same venue.

Today's finals (3.30 p.m.): Boys - Balboul (Tunisia) vs Peric (Croatia). Girls - Dimech (Malta) vs Jerman (Slovenia). Boys and girls' doubles finals to follow.