|
|
| 30 Jun 2001 | |
| The Road to Wimbledon |
On finals day at Roehampton the sun had disappeared but fortunately the players still managed to shine.
The boys final was an all Swiss affair between Roman Valent from Zurich and Stephane Bohli from Geneva. The pair had met only once before on the ITF Junior Circuit in 2000 on clay in the final in Salsomaggiore when Bohli emerged the winner 36 64 64.
This time around Valent, the No.8 seed and higher ranked of the two boys, was the favourite to win the match and started well, taking the first set 63.
Bohli seemed unable to get his big serve working, a weapon that he had been using to excellent effect all week, and went a set down early in the second set. At 3-5 and 0-30 down it looked increasingly like Bohli’s challenge had run it’s course, however, thanks to some great serve and volleying he managed to hang on to his serve to take the set to 4-5 and force Valent to serve out the match.
Valent’s nerve seemed to desert him temporarily when, at break point with Bohli totally out of position, he put an easy backhand into the net thus giving Bohli the vital break back to draw level at 5-5.
This time it was Bohli’s turn to tighten up, he served a double fault at deuce and then put a volley in the net to again give Valent the chance to serve for the match. Valent was not about to let another chance slip through his fingers, he served well puting pressure on Bohli’s returns and gained himself three match points 40-0. He needed only one which he nailed with a forehand winner to take the match and the title 63 75.
The girls final featured Gisela Dulko, the only non-European left in the tournament since the quarter-finals and Claudine Schaul from Luxembourg. Both girls played some great tennis but Schaul edged the first set in the tie-break 9-7. Dulko, then came back strongly, and broke at 3-3 in the second set. It proved to be vital and she went on to take the set 64. Dulko was then on a roll and took the third 63 to give her the title 67(9) 64 63.
Valent and Dulko will both be hoping that they can maintain their form into next week at The Junior Championships, Wimbledon.
^ Back to Top
|
