Alexander Crnokrak secures first ITF title at home with victory at Gold Coast Junior International

THE Gold Coast may have found its next Bernard Tomic after a dominant display from a rising talent delivered a breakthrough ITF title today.

THE Gold Coast may have found its next Bernard Tomic after Alexander Crnokrak capped a stunning two weeks with a breakthrough ITF win on home turf today.

A week after losing the final of the Queensland Junior Championships in Brisbane, the Varsity Lakes 18-year-old bounced back to claim his first ITF title with victory in the final of the Gold Coast Junior International.

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Forced to go through qualifying at both Grade 4 tournaments after missing the entry deadline, Crnokrak beat fellow Aussie Tom Evans 6-4, 6-2 in the final at Burleigh Waters’ Albert Junior Tennis Centre.

His five-match winning streak — highlighted by a 6-4, 6-1 demolition of top seed Dane Sweeny in the quarters — was completed without dropping a set, with his focus now turning to a series of ITF Futures tournaments in Asia next month.

Alexander Crnokrak in action at the Gold Coast Junior International. Picture: Mike Batterham

“I was very happy to get a win (against Evans), it was a very tough match. After each match I got more confidence and felt better but generally I thought the week was pretty good and I played some really good tennis,” Crnokrak, born and raised in Australia to Serbian parents, said.

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“It definitely didn’t feel that comfortable, I felt a lot of the matches were really close despite the scoreline and I had to work really hard. I had good preparation and I just thought I would focus on my own game.

Bernard Tomic.

“I try not to put too much pressure on myself but I still have high expectations. Hopefully I can get an ATP ranking and get as close to the top 100 as I can.”

In the final of the girls’ singles, Australian Amber Marshall beat compatriot Megan Smith 6-4, 6-2.