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| 26 Jan 2002 | |
| Reid goes for Aussie Sweep |
By Eleanor Preston
Sunday will see two new Grand Slam junior champions crowned at the Australian Open after a fascinating day of semi-finals saw Todd Reid and Clement Morel earn a place in the boys’ final and Barbora Strycova and Maria Sharapova win the girl’s semi-finals. All four will be making their debut in a junior Grand Slam final.
All eyes will be on Reid, who has the chance to be the first Australian to win his home junior Grand Slam since Ben Ellwood took the honours in both singles and doubles in 1994. Reid will be playing twice tomorrow. With his doubles partner Ryan Henry he will be playing the Romanian team of Florian Mergea and Horia Tecau in the doubles final.
Reid got to the singles final the hard way, battling soaring temperatures on court and a determined challenge from France’s Richard Gasquet to win 64 36 97. The Australian faces another French boy in the final after Morel came from a set down to defeat his compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 16 62 63.
In the girls’ event, Sharapova was also pushed hard in her semi-final, defeating Taipei’s Su-Wei Hsieh 76 26 63. Despite playing her only her second Grand Slam event, Sharapova proved the smarter player against the more experienced Hsieh. The Russian teenager struggled with her form for much of the match before her determination carried her through.
“I battled it out,” said Sharapova afterwards. “It wasn’t the best day of the tournament for me. I played at fifty percent I think but I fought it one hundred and that really helped me through the match.”
Sharapova’s efforts so far this week have earned her plenty of attention but she is anxious not to let it go to her head. “It feels really great because it’s a Grand Slam final and I’m fourteen years old, and I love it.” said Sharapova, “But I can’t let my mind go away and think ‘I’m very good’ so I just have to keep calm and play my game.”
Strycova could be her toughest challenge yet. The Czech is seeded 7th here in Melbourne and will be full of confidence after her 36 76 61 win over fellow Czech Eva Birnerova in the semi-finals.
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