HISTORY-MAKER SHELBAYEH REACHES CHALLENGER TOUR FINAL

Abdullah Shelbayeh’s rise in stock on the world tennis stage has continued after reaching the final of the Ministry of Interior Championship, in Bahrain, a round on the ATP Challenger Tour.
The 19-year-old, who is ranked 399 in the world, has stormed through four rounds of the tournament which he was invited to as a wild card, beating players established on the rankings as high as 79.
Italian, Salvatore Caruso, who 380 in the world, was beaten in the semi-final 7-5, 6-2, to book a final spot against Australian, Tanasi Kokkinakis, who is ranked 141.
On his way to the final, he defeated world No 79 Jason Kubler, of Australia, ranked 79, becoming the first Jordanian in tennis history to beat a player ranked inside the ATP top 100.
The winner of the Ministry of Interior Championship title will get 125 ranking points, while the runner-up will receive 75 points, guaranteeing that Shelbayeh will rise up the rankings.