Former Irish Davis Cupper, Sean Cooper, was a double winner at this year's SCAA Open 2004 when he won both men's finals earlier on Sunday at King's Park, getting the better of Aussie Giovanni Muratore in both title matches. The third-seeded Irishman defeated the second-seeded Muratore, last year's runner-up, 7-6(4), 6-4, to win the singles crown and then partnering Malcolm Swan of Australia to win the doubles against Muratore and Todd Johnsen, 6-3, 7-6(4).

Photo Gallery   |   Roll of Honour (1985-2004)

Elsewhere, Philippe Sysavanh defeated fellow unseed, Po Yiu Yu, 6-2, 6-2, to capture the Chairman's Cup men's singles title.

Newcomer Cooper, a former Davis Cup player for his native Ireland, had previously held a career-high ATP ranking of No. 1200 at the beginning of 2000. He featured twice for Ireland in Euro/African Group II first round ties and went 1-1 in dead rubber singles, losing to former junior world number one, Gilles Muller, in a 3-2 win against Luxembourg in 2000 and then winning against Karim Maamoun in a 4-1 victory over Egypt in 2003.

His only pro circuit title came at the November 2002 Mexico F18 in Guanajuato when he partnered Kresimir Ritz of Croatia to beat local entrants Juan-Manuel Elizondo and Alvaro Dominguez to lift the men's doubles as qualifiers.

As reported earlier, top-seeded 15-year-old Venise Chan successfully defended her SCAA Open ladies' singles crown in a repeat of last year's final, defeating No. 2 seed Cindy Lee, 6-4, 6-4, to bag her second local major this year after winning her first HK National hardcourt title in April. In doing so, she became the youngest female to repeat as ladies' singles champion at a local major since Paulette Moreno won four straight CRC Open ladies' singles from 1981-1985. Ms. Moreno was 12-years-old in 1981.

HKTA Head Coach, Benny Lin, himself the fourth-ranked junior in the world back in 1991, commented: "She's been with the NTS programme since it first started. And she's now training under our full-time programme (morning and afternoon), while continuing her education by way of a Virtual School in the US. Her training programme will be intensified from now until December. On top of that, she has been given a four-month periodisation, which includes the choice of tournaments she'll play, goals, areas to improve, and year-end targets."

Venise now has the opportunity to go for the Triple Crown at next month's third and final major of the year - the CRC Open 2004. However, competition will be fierce at this year's CRC Open as two-time defending champion, Lam Po Kuen; former HK number one, Tong Ka Po; 2003 runner-up, Wendy Lau; and last week's Hong Kong Open Junior Championships winner, Zhang Ling, will all be vying for the coveted title.

This year's SCAA Open men's doubles title went to top seeds and new Hong Kong residents, Sean Cooper and Malcolm Swan, as they defeated second seeds Giovanni Muratore and Todd Johnsen in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4). The only set the Irish-Aussie combo dropped was in the quarterfinals against Antonio Sagansay and long-time HK resident and former Filipino Davis Cupper, 40-year-old Andres Battad, in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, victory.

The mixed doubles title went to teenagers Ronald Chow and Anthea Look, the third seeds, as they defeated the brother-sister partnership of Keith and Kathy Lo, 6-4, 6-4.

Another player worth mentioning is 13-year-old Geraldine Leong, who currently trains with HKTA's Talent Group under Head Coach, Benny Lin. Geraldine won both the Chairman's Cup ladies' singles and doubles titles, losing just five games in five matches during her singles title run, culminating in a 6-0, 6-0 victory in the final against 12-year-old Hui Wing Ki. She then teamed up with Sher Chun Wing to take the Chairman's Cup ladies' doubles crown when the two teenagers defeated Choi Wing Kam and Wong Tung, 6-2, 6-2, in the final.

Together with Venise Chan and Anthea Look, Geraldine represented Hong Kong in the Junior Fed Cup regional qualifying this year - the premier under-16 girls' team competition under the International Tennis Federation (ITF). And with fellow under-14s, Sher Chun Wing and Tsang Pui Yee, Geraldine was also a mainstay of the Hong Kong under-14 girls' team that competed in the World Junior Tennis Competition 2004 Asia/Oceania Qualifying in Melbourne earlier this year when they placed eighth overall.

TG stars shine bright at SCAA Open 2004

Outstanding junior tennis players training under HKTA's Talent Group (TG) returned with exceptional results from the second major local event, SCAA Open 2004.

TG juniors - Venise Chan, Anthea Look, Kathy Lo, Ronald Chow, Geraldine Leong, Sher Chun Wing and Hui Wing Ki - pictured here with HKTA President, Mr. Kenneth Tsui, excelled in the majority of the events across the board, with Venise repeating as Ladies' Open Singles champion. At 15 years of age, she became the youngest back-to-back Ladies' Open Singles winner since a 12-year-old Paulette Moreno won four straight CRC Opens from 1981 - 1984.

Ronald Chow and Anthea Look captured the mixed doubles crown, defeating fellow TG player, Kathy Lo and her older brother, Keith, in the final, while dropping only one set en route to the title. Ronald and frequent junior doubles partner, Gilbert Wong, were also rewarded for their good performances together as they were directly accepted to the maindraw of the Men's Open Doubles.

The Chairman's Cup Ladies' Singles & Doubles events this year were dominated by TG players, with top seed Geraldine Leong and 12-year-old Hui Wing Ki featuring in the singles final, while Geraldine added a second title by teaming up with Sher Chun Wing to take the doubles title also.

In the prize presentation ceremony held on Sunday at King's Park, the members of the SCAA Tournament Committee and President of the HKTA, Mr. Kenneth Tsui, were on hand to congratulate these youngsters on their remarkable achievements.

About TG

Talented players are selected to the TG in which they are provided with intensive and structured training by the HKTA's coaches. The TG programme aims at nurturing potential National Squad players for Hong Kong.

For details on how to join the Talent Group, please contact the HKTA on 2504 8266.

Results
SCAA Open 2004
King's Park, Kowloon
October 2004

Men's Open Singles Final
(3)Sean Cooper d. (2)Giovanni Muratore 7-6(4) 6-4

Men's Open Doubles Final
(1)Sean Cooper/Malcolm Swan d. (2)Giovanni Muratore/Todd Johnsen 6-3 7-6(4)

Ladies' Open Singles Final
(1)Venise Chan d. (2)Cindy Lee 6-4 6-4

Ladies' Open Doubles Final
(1)Anthea Look/Kathy Lo d. (2)Cindy Lee/Maria Herrera 6-3 2-6 7-6(5)

Mixed Doubles Final
(3)Ronald Chow/Anthea Look d. (2)Keith Lo/Kathy Lo 6-4 6-4

Chairman's Cup
Men's Singles Final
Philippe Sysavanh d. Po Yiu Yu 6-2 6-2

Ladies' Singles Final
(1)Geraldine Leong d. Hui Wing Ki 6-0 6-0

Men's Doubles Final
(6)Bally Bang/Wong Chi Kam d. (1)Po Yiu Yu/Li Hok Wing 6-3 6-2

Ladies' Doubles Final
(1)Geraldine Leong/Sher Chun Wing d. (4)Choi Wing Kam/Wong Tung 6-2 6-2

For complete draws and results, please visit SCAA Open 2004.