American collegiate player turned coach Brad Huff won the inaugural Siem Reap Open tennis tournament on Sunday, beating Chanti Chan of Cambodia 6-2, 6-1 in the final at the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort and Spa.
On the way to the finals, Huff defeated Patrick Gourlay 8-1 while Chanti Chan recorded an identical win over Michele Cipriani.
Apart from representing the University of Tulsa, Huff was also a member of the Furman University team as a senior before he plunged into coaching. His major coaching achievement was a stint in 2009-10 with Chuck Kriese, the then head coach of Thailand.
Cambodia’s present national coach Braen Aneiros was also part of that team.
A resident of Siem Reap, Huff was the prime mover in organising this eight-player event which followed the Barclays ATP Tour finals format. Players were split into two groups, blue and red, with each playing the others in their respective groups over eight-game pro sets in the preliminary stage.
The top two from each group made it to the criss-cross semi-finals.
“We are grateful to the Grand Soluxe Angkor Palace Resort and Spa who provided courts, their staff and amenities during the five-day event,” Huff told the Post yesterday.
“We are also thankful for the logistical support from the Tennis Federation of Cambodia.”
TFC Secretary-General Tep Rithivit said it was “great to see tournaments popping up everywhere” in the Kingdom.
“I hope other major cities take this cue. I would like Huff to handle an orphanage, train a mini-tennis coach and launch the ITF’s Tennis 10s program in Siem Reap,” he added.
To contact the reporter on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]