FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jordan Christiansen Reaches Doubles Final at Tennis Canada
U14 Junior Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta

APRIL 8, 2005

Regina, SK (TS) – Thirteen year old Jordan Christiansen of Saskatoon, the #1 player in Saskatchewan in U14 reached the final of doubles at the Tennis Canada U14 Indoor Junior Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta which is being held April 1 – 9, 2005. The 13 year old from the Lakewood Indoor Tennis Centre in Saskatoon competing in only his 3rd National Championship was seeded #4 in the doubles draw with his partner Zachary White of Ontario. Playing for the first time together, they defeated the #1 seeds in doubles Brandon MacDonald and Michael Hibberd of Ontario 6-2, 6-4 in the semi finals and advanced to today’s doubles final where they lost to eventual champions #2 seeds Gergely Sajdik & Soufiane Azargui of Ontario 6-2, 6-3 in the final.

It has been 42 years since a player from Saskatchewan has reached a final of the Canadian Junior Nationals. The last player to do so was, George Jacoby of Regina who won the U14 Boys singles event at the 1963 Junior Nationals.

Jordan, a member of Team Saskatchewan is a member of the 2005 Canada Games Squad, was also seeded #9 in singles marking the first time in over 13 years that a Saskatchewan player was seeded at Junior Nationals. Jordan’s coach Leo Liendo also Team Saskatchewan Touring Coach at the event commented on Jordan’s doubles, “Jordan was the best player on the court in all of his doubles matches”. Canada Games Coach & Technical Director Danny Da Costa said, “We are very proud of what Jordan has accomplished at this Junior Nationals. Saskatchewan kids are at a disadvantage when we go to Nationals cause the tennis powers Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec compete so well there. Our players simply are not exposed to the high level of competition they see at Nationals”. Ontario’s dominance was prevalent again at the Junior Nationals as Jordan was the only player outside of Ontario to appear in any final boys or girls, singles and doubles. In fact Ontario also captured the team event.

Anna Nelke of Regina, Katherine Melnychuk, Michael Hurman of Saskatoon, and Adrian Urteaga of Dundurn will represent Team Saskatchewan at the U16 Nationals, which are taking place in Repentigny, QC from April 10 – 17, 2005. The U18 Nationals are to be held April 18 – 23, in Toronto Ontario with Team Saskatchewan members Martyna Nowak, Teo Costin, Ronan Conlon and Brad Luciuk all of Saskatoon representing Saskatchewan at the event. Canada Games Coach Danny Da Costa of Regina will coach the Saskatchewan team at both nationals.

For draw information please visit Tennis Canada’s website http://www.tenniscanada.com

For more information please contact:

Danny Da Costa
Canada Games Coach & Technical Director Tennis Saskatchewan
Cell: (306) 501 2264
Email: techdirector@sasktel.net