US top seed Jarmere Jenkins wins City of Onkaparinga Tennis International at Happy Valley

AMERICAN Jarmere Jenkins beat SA hope Luke Saville in straight sets to take out the City of Onkaparinga Tennis International yesterday.

AMERICAN Jarmere Jenkins beat SA hope Luke Saville in straight sets to take out the City of Onkaparinga Tennis International at Happy Valley yesterday.

Jenkins, ranked 261 in the world and the tournament’s top seed, capped an impressive week with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

It followed wins over Australians Maverick Banes, Brad Mousley, Alex Bolt and Jordan Thompson earlier in the tournament.

Wynn Vale’s Mousley, a qualifier, had booked a clash with Jenkins after a first-round win over fellow Australian Adam Hubble.

Jenkins was a slow starter during his matches, dropping three first sets — against Banes, Mousley and Thompson.

His win in the final required less games than any of his other matches.

Saville was the No. 4 seed and progressed to the final after upstaging Japan’s No. 2 seed Yasutaka Uchiyama in three sets.

Among the other locals in the tournament were Li Tu, who upset American world No. 798 Devin McCarthy in three sets in the first round before losing to Australian Matthew Barton in the second round.

Darren Polkinghorne lost in three sets to Thompson in the first round.

The tournament, part of the ITF Pro Circuit, was played on outdoor hardcourts and had $15,000 in prizemoney.