Mildura, Australia, 25 February 2012 | Tennis Australia

The semifinalists of the 2012 Optus 12s and 14s National Grasscourt Championships were decided in Mildura, Victoria yesterday.

No.1 seed Jaimee Fourlis (Preston, Vic) remains on top of the 12s girls’ draw after posting a convincing win over fifth seed Jeanette Lin (Adelaide, SA) 7-5 6-1, while eighth seed Gabriela Ruffels (Melbourne, Vic) upset second seed Aleksa Cveticanin (Wishart, Qld) 6-4 6-3 to also advance.

Third seed Vivian Fidantsis (Chelsea Heights, Vic) defeated 2011 Optus 12s Australian Championships runner-up [7] Petra Hule (Flagstaff Hill, SA) 6-2 6-3, and [6] Stephanie Serafidis (Moonee Ponds, Vic) proved too good for fourth seed Kyra Yap (Balmoral, Qld) 6-3 7-5.

In the boys’ event the top four seeds have progressed to the semi finals after straight set wins today. No.1 seed Benard Nkomba (Yagoona, NSW) beat [6] Jackson Ross (Belgrave South, Vic) 6-1 7-5, and [2] Kody Pearson (Panania, NSW) defeated [5] Adam Walton (Home Hill, Qld) 6-4 6-0.

Third seed Matthew Romios (Pascoe Vale South, Vic) out powered [8] Rinki Hijikata (Willoughby, NSW) 6-2 6-0, while [4] Alexander Crnokrak (Varsity Lakes, Qld) breezed through his match against [7] Todd Millington (Williamstown, Vic) winning 6-3 6-2.

The top four seeds of the Optus 14s National Grasscourt Championships girls’ draw have also moved through to the semi final stage.

No.1 seed Sara Tomic (Southport, Qld) thundered past [8] Katerina Valos (Moonee Ponds, Vic) 6-3 6-1 this morning, and second seed Olivia Tjandramulia (Rockhampton, Qld) posted a comfortable win 6-0 6-1 over sixth seed Maddison Inglis (Maida Vale, WA).

South Australia’s [3] Chloe Hule (Morphett Vale, SA) ousted Optus 2011 12s National Grasscourt Championships runner-up and fifth seed Kimberly Birrell (Hope Island, Qld) 6-2 6-2, and [4] Noelleda Ah San (Endeavour Hills, SA) took three sets to defeat [7] Natalie Rogers (Mt Ossa, Qld) 6-3 3-6 6-4.

In the 14s boys’ draw, [2] Jack Lyttle (Hillarys, WA) and [3] Scott Jones (Carramar, WA) secured victories over their respective opponents Joshua Cheah (Narre Warren South, Vic) 6-2 6-3, and [9] Max Purcell (Belrose, NSW)  6-3 6-2.

Top seed Brian Tran (Greystanes, NSW) recovered from a first set loss to defeat [8] Cole Ingram (Runaway, Qld) 1-6 6-3 6-1, while unseeded Caleb Boland (Lysterfield, Vic) upset fifth seed Mitchell Harper (Yeppoon, Qld) 7-5 6-4.

All semi final matches of the 2012 Optus 12s and 14s National Grasscourt Championships will take place at the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club from 9.00am today. Finals will be played on Sunday.

Optus Junior Tour is an umbrella tour that provides a clear competitive pathway for aspiring tennis players. The Optus Junior Tour tournaments offer Australian Ranking points across five levels – Platinum (also known as the Optus National Junior Championships), Gold, Silver, Bronze and White.

These tournaments offer points across the 12/u, 14/u and 16/u age groups, with select tournaments also offering points in the 18/u age group.  In total, 211 tournaments across Australia will make up the Optus Junior Tour in 2012, giving all juniors the opportunity to obtain an Australian Ranking.

For more information on draws and results of the 2012 Optus National Grasscourt Championships click here.