10 Nov 2013

Ajeet Rai (Huatoki) was granted a Wildcard entry into the qualifying for an International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures tournament in Florida.

Rai (14) won his first round match 6-1 6-1 against 32 year old Carlos Torrelbas (Puerto Rico).  Unfortunately, Rai lost in the second round of qualifying 6-1 6-1 to Joseph Cadogan, a 24yo native of Trinidad & Tobago, who has been ranked inside the top 1000 in the world.

Earlier this year:
 

Ajeet’s burgeoning tennis career continues to gather momentum and further overseas opportunities beckon for the gifted young Taranaki teenager with him and Rakesh returning to America on 2^nd November 2013,

The New Plymouth Boys' High School 14-year-old returned recently from a three-month stint training and playing in events in Europe as a member of Tennis New Zealand's Tour of Europe for elite age-group athletes.

Rai seized the opportunity to hone his skills on clay courts at tournaments in Holland, Denmark and Sweden. The trip finished on a high when he won an open tournament in Amsterdam against an opponent 10 years his senior.

"Things came together for me there and I played very good tennis," Rai said.

Rai's tour extended beyond the New Zealand team development programme when he was invited by retired Swedish professional Magnus Norman to play in a tournament on Stockholm.