|
|
| 22 May 2001 | |
| Italian Junior Open |
Day 2 in Milan saw the completion of the first round matches and the bottom half of the second round draw, with all of the big names surviving.
One of the few surprises of the day came when American newcomer, Jamea Jackson, beat Lucia Migliarini (URU), the No.16 seed. The fourteen-year-old from Atlanta, daughter of Ernie Jackson, former Falcons quarterback in the NFL, prevailed after a tough match.
Having won the toss she decided to receive, a strange choice but one which turned out to be a good one when Jackson broke in the opening game. Migliarini then went on to win the next three games in a row but lost the first set on a tiebreak 75. In the second set Jackson took a 20 lead but Migliarini came back strongly to take the match to a second tiebreak which she won 74.
In the decisive set Jackson again went 20 up but Migliarini pulled it back to 33. At 0-40 on Migliarini’s serve Jackson had numerous chances to get the vital break and finally managed on her fifth break point. The break proved decisive and she went on to take the match 76 67 64. In the second round Jackson will meet Miriam Casanova (SUI) who came back from a set down to win 36 63 62 against talented wildcard Maria Kirilenko (RUS).
Kaia Kanepi (EST), the No. 1 seed, cruised through her first round match against Kristina Jarkenstedt (SWE) 62 61. She will now face Mexican Lourdes Lopez, who beat Amber Liu (USA) 64 64.
There were also first round victories for No. 3 seed Marion Bartoli (FRA) and No. 6 seed Matea Mezak (CRO).
In the second round Gisela Dulko (ARG), one of the favourites for the title and semi-finalist last year, struggled before finally dispatching the Russian qualifier Nina Brattchikova 75 76(3).
In the boys’ draw, Mexico’s Bruno Echagaray (MEX), the No.1 seed, had to work for two and a half hours to progress through his first round match against Christian Johansson (SWE), finally winning in three sets 67(8) 75 60.
Second seed Gilles Muller (LUX) and fifth seed Luciano Vitullo (ARG) had no such problems in their second round matches. They both went through in straight sets. Other seeds through include Marcelo Melo (MEX) and Alex Bogdanovic (GBR).
Promising Italians Andreas Seppi and Tomas Holzer kept up the home interest in the draw with wins in the second round.
^ Back to Top
|
