Raphael Nii Ankrah won his first ITF juniors title on Saturday, April 16, 2022, beating France's Mickael Kaouk 6-7(5),7-5, 7-6(2) in the Tennis Foundation Ghana ITF Accra J5 Open week 2 final.
Ghana's Nii Ankrah, playing in his second grand ITF junior final, became the second Ghanaian to win a major junior singles title after Abubakari Yakubu-Lea won the title in the first week.
After his victory, Nii Ankrah thanked friends, family, and fans for giving him energy throughout the week.
Nii Ankrah also praised Mickael, who was in tears after the match. "For me, Mickael is the best tennis player I have ever met, "Nii Ankrah said.
In return, Mickael said that his opponent deserved to win the title: "I wish you many more ITF juniors' title, I'm sure you'll be on this stage in the future again," he said.
Seventh seed Nii Ankrah broke Mickael Kaouk in the fifth game to lead 3-2 and also picked up his serve to 4-2, but Mickael broke back at once and took his serve to 4 games all. At 6 games all, Mickael broke Nii Ankrah again to win the tie-break 7-5.
Nii Ankrah was broken when serving for the first time at 5-4 in the second set, but he made no mistake two games later, converting the first of his championship points to the second set 7-5.
In the final set, Nii Ankrah failed to serve out for the match at 5-4, but saved a set point in his next service game to force a tiebreak, which he won to clinch the game in 2 hours and 57 minutes.
speaking to ghanatennis.org Nii Ankrah said, Taking everything into account, "the scenario, the momentum," he said, "undoubtedly the biggest comeback of my tennis career.
He added, "The most unexpected and most surprising for everyone.
Italy's Lucia Tognoni won the girls singles title.
Great Britain's Isabella Wong and her partner Germany's Tamara Kuti defended their Tennis Foundation Ghana ITF Accra J5 title on Thursday winning their second junior title together. The duo Isabella Wong and Tamara Kuti beat Morocco's Camelia Hadab and Italy's Lucia Tognoni 6-2, 6-3 in the final on Thursday.
The boy's doubles final was an all Ghanaian affair as Tennis Foundation Ghana ITF Accra J5 Open week 1 doubles finalist champion Abubakari Yakubu-Lea and his partner Kenneth Adjokatse won the week 2 title after combining to oust their fellow compatriots Desmond Ayaaba and Emmanuel Antwi 6-3,6-7(5), (10-2).
