Raguin clinches ITF J200 titles
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday September 22, 2026 10:04
Raguin (17) secured the singles title on Sunday with another comeback victory, beating tournament number one seed, Mustafa Ege Sik of Australia 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.
The victory capped a demanding five match singles campaign in which Raguin repeatedly demonstrated his resilience.
He opened the tournament with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Japan’s Kensuke Kobayashi before defeating another Japanese opponent, Koyu Yanagi, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
In the quarter-finals, Raguin recovered from a 6-0 opening set against number five seed, Ymerali Ibraimi of Australia to win 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.
He then beat another Australian, seeded number seven, Ethan Domingo 7-6 (4), 6-4 in a physical two and a half hours semi-final clash.
Raguin’s victory over top seed Sik in the final completed a run of five consecutive singles victories, three of which were against seeded players.
He had already been crowned doubles champion alongside Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig.
Playing their first tournament together, the unseeded pair defeated the number two, number three and number one seeds during their run to the title, culminating in a 7-5, 6-2 victory over top seeds Sik and Takizawa of Australia in the final.
The doubles triumph was Raguin’s second J200 doubles title of the year, following his African Junior Championship doubles title in Cairo earlier this year.
The rising star left Miki with both singles and doubles trophies and nine consecutive victories, five in singles and four in doubles.
Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) president, Oaitse Thipe, highlighted that Raguin's performance is particularly notable given the short turnaround from his US Open Junior campaign in New York.
“Raguin traveled directly to Japan and had only a few days to adjust to a 13 hour time difference, high humidity and significantly differently playing conditions before competition began,” he said.
Thipe added that the Mike titles continue a breakthrough 2026 season for the young Motswana.
They included a semi-final at the J300 Traralgon, a last 16 appearance at the Australian Open Juniors, African Under 18 singles silver and doubles gold.
A Wimbledon Junior doubles semi-final and becoming the first player from Botswana to qualify for the US Open Junior Main Draw.