AJO semis decided as finals beckon on Thursday
Published Wed 16 Apr 2025
Wednesday presented an enthralling day of action where the 2025 Australian Junior Open finalists were decided.
Australian players will feature in all but one of the 10 finals while nine international players remain in contention.
Here's how the semi-finals played out...
UNDER 19
The Boys U19 Final many expected in 2024 has come about 12 months on with the top two seeds set to face off in the decider.
New Zealand’s Oliver Dunbar (pictures) fell one step short last year and is determined to make amends against Thomas Scott (NSW) who is playing his final junior tournament as the defending champion.
“I was disappointed last year I didn’t do what I wanted to do here so hopefully this year I can get the job done,” said Dunbar following his victory over Jackson Wylie (NSW). “I’m confident - hopefully [I can] get one title for the Kiwis this week.”
Emmy Lamb (NSW) is also lining up in her final AJO and is into her first-ever final after taking down top seed Sarbani Maitra (QLD). There she will meet second seed Joanne Joseph who, like Lamb, is chasing a maiden AJO crown.
“It was a great match against Sarbani and I’m looking forward to the next one,” said Lamb who was down 6-9 in the fourth before storming back to stop the semi-final from going the distance. “I just thought ‘I have to push through’, get the next few points in and hopefully it will end well.
“It’s my last ever AJO so it would mean everything to win one but I can’t think too far ahead.”
Boys Final
[1] Oliver Dunbar (NZL) v [2] Thomas Scott (NSW)
Girls Final
[3/4] Emmy Lamb (NSW) v [2] Joanne Joseph (VIC)
UNDER 17
The Boys U17 Final is a rematch of an U15 quarter-final from 2024 with Henry Kross from central west NSW taking on Pakistan’s second seed Azan Ali Khan.
Kross was down 0-2 against fellow New South Welshman Stanley Chung but stormed back to claim the match in five, while Khan was typically efficient in a straight sets victory over WA giant-killer Aiden Finlay-Mulligan.
“It felt good to come back in those last three sets, get over the [number] one seed of the tournament which is always a good win,” said Kross. “I had a word with my dad who is my coach, and my mother, and they just told me to keep in, ‘you’re still in this game, don’t give up’...and that motivated me a lot.”
The top two seeds have made it to the Girls U17 final where defending champion Mehwish Ali (PAK) will meet 2024 AJC champion Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW).
Ali has not dropped game in her title defence but will face stern opposition from Poulava who will be keen to overcome a quarter-final loss to the Pakistan ace 12 months ago.
“I am happy - I love playing the Australian Junior Open,” said Ali. “I love coming to Australia - it’s a beautiful place, the venue is really good, the organisers are really good and hard-working.” said Ali. “And the crowd - OMG! - I love the crowd.
”Every player has put a lot of effort into this tournament and for finals, absolutely I’m really nervous for it.”
Boys Final
[3/4] Henry Kross (NSW) v [2] Azan Ali Khan (PAK)
Girls Final
[1] Mehwish Ali (PAK) v [2] Eden-Alma Poulava (NSW)
UNDER 15
Japan’s Emily Senior is gunning for a third straight AJO title, her first in the Under 15s, having come through her semi-final against Coffs Harbour’s Jaida Wigley.
She will face Pakistan’s Sehrish Ali - who also hasn’t dropped a game this week - in the only 2025 final not to feature an Australian.
“My goal was to win the tournament,” said Senior. “It was tough [in the third game] when my opponent was 8-5, it was very tough for me, I was very frustrated.
“I find it quite tough [in the Under 15s] because the level is quite high from the first round but I’m really happy I can go through to the final.
The Boys U15 Final will see two players trying to take their first AJO title.
Queensland’s James Boswell has won nine games from nine in his run to the final, while Victoria’s Kaveen Kohombange twice led by a game against WA’s Alexander Marsh before closing his semi out in five.
“It’s been the goal all week [to make the final] and it’s pretty good to make my first final of a big event,” said Boswell. “At the end I got a bit edgy but it’s good after coming to quite a few tournaments to be able to get to the final of a big event.”
Boys Final
[3/4] Kaveen Kohombange (NSW) v [2] James Boswell (QLD)
Girls Final
[1] Emily Senior (JPN) v [2] Sehrish Ali (PAK)
UNDER 13
Benjamin Boardman (NSW) received a free ticket through to the Boys U13 Final after his semi-final opponent was ruled out with illness.
He will face China’s Yuanxi Liu who has been one of the most impressive players all week. Liu has spent just 40 minutes on court in his first three matches however will face his toughest task as the top two seeds go head-to-head.
The girls final sees defending champion Mahnoor Ali (PAK) take on Queensland’s Riyo Kawabata.
Ali dropped just six points in today’s semi-final while Kawabata’s ever-present grin was even wider after a 3-0 victory over second seed Cleo Kawabata in a match where the final scoreline didn’t represent how close their semi-final really was.
Boys Final
[1] Yuanxi Liu (CHN) v [2] Benjamin Boardman (NSW)
Girls Final
[1] Mahnoor Ali (PAK) v [3/4] Riyo Kawabata (QLD)
UNDER 11
Victoria’s Freddie Goldsmith was highly-impressive as he overcame a hand injury to oust the top seed in the Boys U11 Semi-Finals to book a place in the tournament decider.
There he will face Pakistan’s Ahmad Ali Naz who recorded his third-straight 3-0 victory today.
In the girls competition, Malaysia’s Iszea Amani Ishak remains undefeated in their round robin competition ahead of the final round of matches on Thursday.
While Sydney’s Ruisha Chu holds a 3-1 record and could finish with the same win-loss ratio as Ishak, the Malaysian has the tournament in her hands if she can get over the top of WA’s Miranda Clarke in her final match.
Boys Final
[3/4] Freddie Goldsmith (VIC) v [2] Ahmad Ali Naz (PAK)
Girls Round Robin - Round 5 of 5
Miranda Clarke (WA) v Iszea Amani Ishak (MAS)
Kayla Goonewardena (VIC) v Hannah Leung (QLD)
Ruisha Chu (NSW) v Aime Lacquiere (QLD)
