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| 17 Aug 2002 | |
| Teams Battle for Final Places |
Players were faced with changing weather conditions in Prostejov today, making it difficult for the 16 teams who were doing battle on the penultimate day of the competition to determine their final World Junior Tennis placing.
In the match to decide 13th and 14th place, the Belarussian team (5) who have had a disappointing competition by their standards faced the wily Colombian boys team. Thomas Estrada opened the Colombian challenge cruising to a 62 lead in the first set and continued his demolition of the Belarussian, Aliaksandr Zotav (BLR) in the second set to win convincingly 62. With the first singles rubber under their belt, the Colombian team went into the second singles match with an air of confidence however the Belarussian number one, Dzmitry Novikov looked determined to make his Colombian opponent, Francisco Franco work for the win.
In the opening set, Dzmitry Novikou broke the Colombian's serve in the first game, but was unable to capitalise on the break and was immediately broken back by the level-headed Colombian. Gaining in confidence from the break-back, Franco then stormed to a 41 lead, leaving his opponent to wonder where it had all gone wrong. The Belarussian managed to gather his composure to hold serve in the sixth game, but it was too late to make a fight-back as the Colombian walked away with the set 63.
In the second set, the Belarussian held his ground and played some great shots to take the set to a tie-break. Novikou stormed to a 41 lead but was unable to hold onto it, allowing Franco to claw his way back into the match to level at five all. Two points was all that was needed to secure the 13th final placing and the Colombian player proved that he was the stronger of the two, playing the important points well to win the tie-break 75 and secure the Colombian boys' team 13th place in the World Junior Tennis Final.
The Aussies put in a solid performance against Belgium to win their tie 3-0 and finish 9th overall. Australia’s No. 3 player Anthony Tuong played his first singles rubber this week and proved he is no slouch defeating Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 76(7) 75. Stephen Fotakis (AUS) backed up his fellow team- mate to win his rubber against Frederic de Fays (BEL) comfortably 62 61.
The Czech Republic boys can be happy with their 11th position, an improvement on the 14th position reached in 2001. Miloslav Navratil (CZE) set the Czech team up well coming into the tie defeating Nicolas Santos of Brazil in straight sets 63 62. In front of their home crowd Dusan Lojda (CZE) consolidated the Czech’s victory overcoming Arthsur Takahashi (BRA) 61 62.
China and Korea had a closer tie in the boys' event with Korea winning the tie 2-1. China’s Ye Du made a quick start to their campaign defeating Ju-Hae Mun (KOR) 61 62. The Koreans then fought back with Yo-Suh Yoon (KOR) sweeping past Yang Chang (CHN) 60 63. The deciding rubber saw the Korean combination of Mun and Yoon between rain delays fight valiantly against China’s Du and Chang to win the tie 67(9) 62 62 and finish in 15th position.
In the girls' event France and Spain fought for the 9th position, with Spain’s No. 2 player Carla Suarez winning her match against Marina Cossous (FRA) with ease 61 60. The French No. 3 player Estelle Guisard played with nothing to lose winning the match over Mayte Gabarrus 64 26 75 to level the tie. Spain then made light work of the French defeating them 61 63 in the doubles to win the tie.
Egypt clinched the 11th position in the girl’s event defeating Colombia 3-0. Rana Tharwat (EGY) played well to win her rubber against Juantia Munoz (COL) 63 62. Ali Fakhry (EGY) confirmed Egypt’s winning position by defeating Viky Nunez (COM) 64 26 61. Egypt then went on to win the doubles 64 36 63.
The fight for the 13th position was a close tie with Canadian Chantal Beetham defeating Miasacca Panji Rindang Kashi (INA) in an exciting three set rubber 62 67(2) 63. Gusti Ayu Kd Fani Damayanti (INA) evened proceedings for Indonesia winning their rubber 76(5) 61 against Valerie Tetreault (CAN). The Canadian doubles duo of Beetham and Tetreault came into the doubles tie all guns blazing to defeat Indonesia 62 61.
The New Zealand girls had a good start to their tie against Brazil with Kiwi Joanna Carswell winning her rubber against Paula Madruga 16 62 60. The Brazilians then stepped up their game with Teliana Pereira (BRA) defeating Emma Hayman (NZL) 62 60. In the deciding doubles rubber the Brazilians proved too strong for the Kiwi’s defeating them 16 75 75 to take 15th position.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the number one seeds from America will be hoping to make history by being the first US boys' team to hold aloft the elusive World Junior Tennis trophy. The Spanish boys' team on the other hand, knows all too well what it is like to win the competition, claiming the title on two separate occasions in 1991 and 2000. The Spanish clay court specialists go into the final without conceding a rubber in these finals and will be hoping to test the athleticism and determination of the USA to take the title for the third time. It has been a hard week for both teams culminating in what is set to be a hard fought and passionate final. As to whether it will be a Spanish inquisition or an American dream will be revealed tomorrow when the two teams take centre stage.
In the girls' event, European debutantes to the World Junior Tennis finals, the Netherlands and Poland seeded one and two respectively find themselves the centre of attention as they take their deserved places in the final for the first time since the inception of the competition in 1991.
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