Cambodia’s youngest Davis Cupper Long Samneang crossed a significant milestone yesterday by becoming the country’s first player to get an ITF World Junior Ranking.

Playing his second ITF Grade Four tournament in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, Long Samneang ousted fifth seeded local player Mohammed Rizky Widianto in a drawn out three-setter 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to complete a second round victory.

The result automatically gave the 16-year-old a ranking point, which ensures him a place in the world junior rankings to be announced on October 28.

In the first round on Tuesday, Samneang defeated another Indonesian Ganang Rahmat Trisnawan 6-3, 6-3. He will now face 12th seeded Muhammed Iqbal Anshori today for a place in the quarter-finals.

“Born and raised in Cambodia, Samneang’s short career has always been centred in Phnom Penh. So for him to go out and achieve this in another country, beating a player ranked 875th, is really remarkable,” Cambodia’s national coach Braen Aneiros told the Post.

“We are very excited with this news. We hope he can win his third round match and get into the quarter-finals.”