Cambodia’s Long Samneang, who got into the main draw of an ITF Grade Four event in the Indonesian city of Surabaya as a lucky loser and won his first two rounds to earn the right to make the world junior ranking list on Wednesday, was beaten 6-2, 6-0 by 12th seeded Muhammed Iqbal Ashori in the pre-quarter-finals yesterday.

The Cambodian Davis Cupper found it hard to match the Indonesian’s consistency on ground strokes and went down rather tamely after showing promise of a fight early in the first set.

“It was disappointing. We expected a better performance from him after what he did on Wednesday. But overall these two weeks have been very productive for him and the country’s junior initiative,” head of junior development Mam Phalkun, who is accompanying Long Samneang in Indonesia, told the Post.

Tennis Federation of Cambodia secretary-general Tep Rithivit told the Post that Samnenag was a polished product of the federation’s junior drive.

“Though he has been part of our Davis Cup squad for two years he has had limited opportunities. His performance in the ITF junior circuit gives us greater optimism.

“It won’t be long before we send out a few more juniors on the circuit,” Rithivit said, adding that the TFC is gearing up to take grassroots programs to Battambang province soon.