Melbourne, VIC, 14 December 2019 | Matt Trollope

Top seed James McCabe will face third set Philip Sekulic in the final of the boys’ 16/u Australian Championships on Sunday.

McCabe recovered from 5-2 down in the third set to beat No.4 seed Edward Winter 4-6 6-2 7-6(3), before Sekulic subdued unseeded West Australian Ethan Cook 6-3 3-6 6-4.

“That game that I got broken to go 5-2 down, I had like 10 games points but didn’t take it. I think Eddie got a bit nervous. I just tried to get everything back, and when I had the chance to hit it, I’d hit a winner,” McCabe told tennis.com.au.

“He has to beat me, I’m not gonna let him win.”

McCabe, who reached the quarterfinals of the 18/u Australian Championships last week at Melbourne Park, said at the beginning of this week that his aim was to win the 16/u event.

The top seed has moved to within one match of that goal.

“It would be amazing — it’s been my goal since I was 15, so all my training has led up to this,” he said.

“And now I’m here, so I’ll give it my best.”

DRAW: 16/u Australian Championships boys’ singles

There he will meet Sekulic, who dropped his first set of the tournament against Cook in a torrid affair on Court 5.

Sekulic admitted he had not seen McCabe play this week, but would be prepared when they clash on Sunday.

“He’s got a pretty good serve as well. It will probably be close as well … I’ll ask a couple of mates how he plays, where he likes to hit it, where he likes to serve,” Sekulic told tennis.com.au.

“It was a pretty tough match today. My opponent was playing really well, so just happy to get through a really tight match. I think I just lifted my intensity a bit more, compared to the second set.

“I’ve been using my serve pretty well (this week) and returning pretty well as well.”

DRAW: 16/u Australian Championships girls’ singles

In the girls’ 16/u tournament, top seed Talia Gibson came out on top of an all West Australian affair against Taylah Preston, last week’s 14/u Australian champion.

Gibson’s 6-4 6-3 win sets up a final against No.6 seed Lauren Nikoloski, who beat third seed Lara Walker 6-4 2-6 6-2.