SEVENTEEN-year-old Jamaican Brandon Burke played his best game so far this year when he reached the semi-final of the US Jr International Grass Court Championships at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Pennsylvania weekend.

The sixth-seed Burke lost to the eventual champion and wild card American Maxx Lipman, who won 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

Fifteen-year-old Lipman, USTA Boys 16 National Open semi-finalist, disposed of number three seed and fellow American Shane Vinsant 6-1, 6-4 in the final to capture his second title for the year.

Burke, with a world junior ranking of 136, has now played his fourth tournament for the year. In the previous three, he has failed to get by the first round.

Burke lost 6-7 (6), 2-6 to New Zealand’s Adam Lee at 21st Mitsubishi-Lancer International Juniors Championships in the Philippines on March 23, lost 3-6, 6-7 (6) to Malaysian home boy Mohd Assri Merzuki on March 16 at the 15th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup, and fell 4-6, 4-6 to Thailand’s Tas Suwanasang at the ITF/LTAT Junior Championships in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

For the year, therefore, Burke has won three and lost three matches, during which he won one and lost three tiebreakers.