Daniel Jovanovski has repeated his December Showdown triumph of final yr, the place he swept the 14-and-under nationwide championships, as he claimed the 2023 16-and-under boys’ singles title.

The Victorian defeated New South Wales’ Chase Zhao in a decent 6-4 7-6(3) battle, to develop into back-to-back December Showdown champion in entrance of a vocal dwelling crowd.

In what was an arm wrestle of a remaining, there was just one break of serve for the match, which got here at 4-all within the first set.

Jovanovski knew he was in for a troublesome match towards the seventh seed, who he final performed within the quarterfinals of an ITF J30 occasion at New Caledonia in June.

“I knew Chase was a chaser, it’s in his title,” Jovanovski famous. “He’s a terrific participant, I needed to run him round, and unfold the court docket slightly bit.”

Aggressive along with his returning, Jovanovski stepped contained in the baseline and got here into the web wherever potential to try to dictate the rallies all through the match.

“I felt like I used to be taking the ball early and attempt to cease a little bit of time for him,” he stated.

Daniel Jovanovski celebrates his victory over Chase Zhao. Image: Tennis Australia

In entrance of family and friends at Melbourne Park, Jovanovski capped off a memorable December Showdown with some very significant silverware.

“It did really feel nice enjoying out right here,” Jovanovski stated.

“That is my hometown, I prepare right here rather a lot and I like the resurfaced courts, the ball youngsters have been unbelievable and yeah, it’s been nice.”

The 15-year-old additionally competed in final weeks’ 18-and-under occasions, the place he made the quarterfinals of the boys’ singles draw and had some spectacular wins.

“I do know that the 18s was a reasonably large ask, I did tear my stomach final yr, so I used the week to prepare for the 16s,” he stated.

“Get a really feel for it, benefit from the environment.”

Jovanovski joins a really spectacular checklist of names on the 16/u boys’ singles honour roll, together with Todd Woodbridge, Lleyton Hewitt, Max Purcell and Alex de Minaur.

When requested to learn out a few of the earlier winners names engraved on the trophy, the 2023 champion was amazed.

“Wow, I didn’t truly learn all of the names,” Jovanovski stated.

“Someday I hope to be identical to them, if not higher.”

Jovanovski later returned within the doubles with Jerome Estephan from New South Wales.

The pair misplaced the semifinal in a match tiebreak towards Victorians Luca Connaughton and Sam Simmonds 6-1 2-6 [10-6].

The unseeded Connaughton and Simmonds face New South Wales duo Lachlan McFadzean and Ashton McLeod within the remaining.

16/U AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR TOUR MASTERS

TODAY’S RESULTS
Boys’ singles, remaining
[2] Daniel Jovanovski (Vic) d [7] Chase Zhao (NSW) 6-4 7-6(3)

Boys’ doubles, semifinals
Luca Connaughton (Vic)/Sam Simmonds (Vic) d [1] Jerome Estephan (NSW)/Daniel Jovanovski (Vic) 6-1 2-6 [10-6]
[2] Lachlan McFadzean (NSW)/Ashton McLeod (NSW) d [4] Myron Papadimitrou (NSW)/Chase Zhao (NSW) 6-2 6-4

STILL TO BE PLAYED
Boys’ doubles, remaining
[2] Lachlan McFadzean (NSW)/Ashton McLeod (NSW) v Luca Connaughton (Vic)/Sam Simmonds (Vic)