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| 24 May 2001 | |
| Italian Junior Open |
“The winner of the match between Marion (Bartoli) and Kaia Kanepi could be this year’s Junior World Champion” That was the opinion on Thursday of Walter Bartoli, father and coach of the No.3 seed in Milan, as both girls progressed to the quarter-finals, and one match away from a semi-final meeting.
Bartoli, the 16-year-old French girl who has been awarded a wild card into the main draw at next week’s French Open, faced a lot of problems at the beginning of her match against Miriam Casanova (SUI). Casanova shot out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and served for the set at 5-1 but her opponent began to fight back and time the ball better. Bartoli then went on to win four games in a row and win the tie-break 7-2 to avoid a long day on court number ten. From then on it proved too easy and despite all Casanova’s efforts Bartoli won 7-6(3) 6-11.
Kanepi had fewer problems in her match against Christina Schiechtl, the No.14 seed, but was made to fight hard nevertheless. For the Estonian star the key to her 64 64 win was her heavy topspin from the baseline and great shot selection.
On court No. 8 it was not a good day for Silvana Bauer (NED), who missed many chances in the second set against Angelique Widjaja (INA). Bauer lost the first set 6-1 but was able to come back in the second from 5-2 down. She won four games in a row to serve at 6-5 but missed a good opportunity to close out the set. In the tie-break she was again unable to capitalise on her chances and Widjaja, the Japan Open Junior champion, went through to the quarter-finals 61 76(8).
Galina Voskoboeva (RUS) suffered some of the same problems in her defeat in two tie-break sets 76(3) 76(5) by Maria Josè Argeri (ARG).
On Thursday only eight singles matches were scheduled to make way for doubles matches. In the boys’ field all the big names progressed without any problems, apart from Brian Dabul (ARG), who was stopped by newcomer Lamine Ouahab (ALG) 63 64.
There were no such problems for Alejandro Falla (COL), Roman Valent (SUI) and Bruno Echagaray (MEX). Echagaray, who did not seem to be in great shape on clay at the beginning of the week, beat Paul Capdeville (CHI) 63 64. Valent stopped Brazilian Marcelo Melo 63 62 and Alejandro Falla booked his place in the quarter-finals defeating Clement Morel (FRA) 75 64.
On Friday all quarter-final matches are once again scheduled in the morning.
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