Airu Nagata Captures Cranleigh U14 Boys Crown in Abu Dhabi
Date:
09/05/2026Airu Nagata Captures Cranleigh U14 Boys Crown in Abu Dhabi
Airu Nagata (JTP) won the Road to MADO B/S02 - Cranleigh U14 Boys Tournament in Abu Dhabi with a dominant straight-sets run, defeating Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA) in the final. With the title decided, there is no competitive order of play scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Tournament Overview
Event: Road to MADO B/S02 - Cranleigh U14 Boys Tournament
City: Abu Dhabi
Dates: May 1–10, 2026
Category: U14 Boys (Singles)
Draws: Main Draw 16; Qualifying 8
Surface: Hard
Official Ball: Wilson US Open
Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open: Yes
Entry Fee: AED 125
Official page: Tournament link
Champion and Final
Champion: Airu Nagata (JTP)
Runner-up: Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA)
Final score: Nagata d. Rtel Bennani 6-3, 6-2
Airu Nagata sealed the title with measured aggression and consistency, pulling ahead early in both sets and protecting his lead behind a high first-serve percentage and steady depth off the return.
Champion's Route to the Title
| Round | Opponent (Club) | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Timofei Soshnikov (RAC) | 6-0, 6-1 |
| Semifinal | Alec Larrouilh (JTP) | 6-2, 6-2 |
| Final | Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA) | 6-3, 6-2 |
Across the last three rounds, Nagata dropped only 10 games, underscoring his control of baseline exchanges on the hard courts.
Semifinals Recap
- Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA) d. Rehaan Nandi (IND) 6-2, 6-2
- Airu Nagata (JTP) d. Alec Larrouilh (JTP) 6-2, 6-2
Quarterfinal Highlights
- Rehaan Nandi (IND) d. Akachukwu Uzokwe (C.F) 1-6, 6-3, 10-4
- Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA) d. Gabriel Michel (JTP) 6-2, 6-3
- Alec Larrouilh (JTP) d. Anthony Andreu (RAC) 6-2, 6-4
- Airu Nagata (JTP) d. Timofei Soshnikov (RAC) 6-0, 6-1
Round of 16 Notes
- Akachukwu Uzokwe (C.F) d. Dominic Berardis (IND) 6-2, 6-1
- Gabriel Michel (JTP) led 6-3 when Adam Wild Ali (RAC) retired
- Anthony Andreu (RAC) d. Reyansh Mishra (IND) 7-6, 7-6
- Timofei Soshnikov (RAC) d. Yuvaan Sheth (C.F) 6-2, 7-5
- Byes to Round of 16: Rehaan Nandi (IND), Kamil Rtel Bennani (SMA), Alec Larrouilh (JTP), and Airu Nagata (JTP)
Performance Themes
- First-strike tennis on hard courts: Shorter rallies rewarded proactive baseline play, especially on return games.
- Mental resilience: Deciding match tiebreaks and back-to-back tiebreak sets highlighted composure under pressure, notably for Rehaan Nandi and Anthony Andreu in the early rounds.
- Physical management: One retirement in the Round of 16 underscored the importance of recovery during compact junior schedules.
Today, Saturday, May 9, 2026 — Order of Play
With the singles final completed and the champion confirmed, there are no competitive matches scheduled for today.
| Session | Court | Match | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | No official matches scheduled | — |
Please refer to the official tournament page for any late updates, practice court allocations, or ceremony timings.
Road to Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open Context
This event forms part of the UAE Tennis Federation’s Road to the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open pathway. Performances here influence positioning for future opportunities within the national junior ecosystem, recognizing consistency across surfaces and stages.
Quick Facts
| Main Draw Size | 16 |
| Qualifying Draw Size | 8 |
| Surface | Hard |
| Official Ball | Wilson US Open |
| City | Abu Dhabi |
Closing Note
The Cranleigh U14 Boys tournament showcased disciplined technique and match craft from the next generation. Congratulations to champion Airu Nagata and to all competitors for a high-standard week of junior tennis in Abu Dhabi.