TheSportsCampus

Eighteen-year-old Luke Saville (Barmera, SA) has won his first Futures title at the Chang ITF Pro Circuit event in Bangkok, Thailand. In hot and humid conditions, the South Australian defeated world No.385 and No. 1 seed Di Wu (CHN) in the second round before toppling No.6 seed Arata Onozawa (JPN) and No.7 seed Shuichi Sekiguchi (JPN) to reach his first ever Pro Circuit final.

Saville, the world No.742, then fought back from a set down to win the championship over unseeded Frenchman Antoine Escoffier, 2-6 6-4 6-0, on Saturday.

"It was great to win my first pro tour title, especially as I saved a match point in my first round," Saville said post match. "I've been training really hard over the past couple weeks and it is pleasing to come out with a victory under my belt. I'm hoping to build on this in my preparation for upcoming events."

Scott Ray, ITF Supervisor added: "It has been between 35 and 38 degrees every day with high humidity, and in the face of these added challenges and a string of quality opponents, Luke's ability to maintain his focus, and if you like, 'keep his cool' was the foundation on which he masterminded this great result.

"Luke has already set high standards of professionalism on and off the court and it is uplifting to watch his successful transition from junior ITF to pro circuit events."

The title marks a significant stepping stone in Saville's career. His ITF ranking is now expected to rise to the high 500's.

Saville will play a second Futures tournament in Bangkok before heading to Europe for the claycourt season.

Australia's Gavin Van Peperzeel (Sandstone Point, Qld) and Scott Puodziunas (Stafford Heights, Qld) also reached the men's doubles final in Thailand before going down to top seeds Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) and Hiroki Kondo (JPN) 0-6 4-6.

Western Australia's Casey Dellacqua (Woodvale, WA) also had a win over the weekend, taking out the $50,000 ITF in Fukuoka, Japan.

Dellacqua tweeted "Heard Federer puts gut in the mains & poly in the crosses when he plays on grass. I played on syn grass this week in Japan and so I copied him...and I won the tournament."

Currently ranked 96, Dellacqua has direct entry into Roland Garros where she's enjoyed some of her best Grand Slam results. In 2008 she reached the third round in singles and the doubles final (with Francesca Schiavone) and last year teamed with American Scott Lipsky to win the mixed doubles.