Second-seeded Sen Sokpoan kept his head cool and heart warm in a tense super tie-break to beat top-seeded Svay Voth in the title decider of the Tournoi des Petits AS de Kep at the seaside town’s Villa Romonea court on Sunday.

After sharing the first two sets in this U14 singles final, the 10-point super tie-break brought out the best from the Kep-based rivals with momentum shifting from one end of the court to the other.

When it came to the crunch, it was the national under-12 No1 Sen Sokpoan who trumped the country’s top ranked under-14 player Svay Voth 1-4, 4-2, 10-7.

On the way up to the climactic final, Svay Voth defeated third seeded Chem Samphors 4-1, 4-2 while Sokpoan got past unseeded Sok Pim 4-1, 4-0.

The two-day tournament, which attracted 30 players, offered a range of prizes including medals for the quarter-finalists, a tennis racquet and a watch each for the finalists in addition to T-shirts, caps and tennis equipment.

A special mention was made of eight-year-old Tep Lancelot, who won his first competitive match 4-1, 4-0 against Ngoun Thia and then lost to Sok Pim in the quarter-finals.

The Tennis Federation of Cambodia’s Global Goodwill Ambassador Hisae Arai of Japan was the guest of honour on the opening day of the event, while TFC Secretary General Tep Rithivit presided over the prize distribution.

The impressive show rounded off with a dinner party attended by players, organisers, local sponsors and guests.

The local sponsors supporting the junior event were Toucan Bar and Restaurant, Veranda Natural Resort, Beach House, Kep Lodge, Coastal, Vanna Hill Resort, Enseignement Solidaire and La Baraka Bar and Restaurant.

Attention now shifts to the second Kep Open involving action in the men’s singles and doubles.