Tennis: NZ advance to world junior semifinals

New Zealand have advanced to the semifinals at the world junior tennis finals in the Czech Republic following another 2-1 win in pool play.

The New Zealand team of Sebastian Lavie and Ben McLachlan beat the United States and Argentina by that margin and did so again today against eighth seeds Hungary in the 14-and-under tournament at Prostejov.

McLachlan lost his opening singles match but, as he has done all week, Lavie levelled the tie by beating Mate Zsiga in straight sets.

The two New Zealanders then combined to again win their doubles match.

They will play the unseeded Japan in the semifinals, a team they should be confident of beating. They beat the Japanese in the semifinals of the qualifying tournament in Asia, in which they went on to be runners up.

- NZPA