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| 27 Jan 2002 | |
| Morel and Strycova win the singles titles |
By Eleanor Preston
Clement Morel and Barbora Strycova are the new Australian Open junior champions after both scored straight sets wins in Sunday’s boys’ and girls’ finals. Morel, from France, ended Australia’s hopes of crowning a home-bred champion by beating local boy Todd Reid 64 64. Strycova had to battle hard to get past 14-year-old Maria Sharapova, defeating the Russian 60 75.
Morel, who turns eighteen in July, looked thrilled with his win. Having had to overcome both Reid and the large patriotic crowd which had gathered on Show Court 1 at Melbourne Park, Morel raised his arms in triumph and appeared overwhelmed by the occasion. “I dream about winning a Grand Slam, so it’s fabulous for me,” he said excitedly.
A disappointed Reid admitted that he come on court feeling tired and flat after a gruelling semi-final yesterday against Richard Gasquet. “Yesterday it was very hot and it went to 97 in the third against what I think was probably the best player in the tournament, and that really took a lot out of me. Today after the first set it really kicked in. I guess my legs didn’t hold me up in the long points like they usually do,” he said. Reid thanked the crowd after the match but said he felt disappointed not to give them more to cheer about. “I wasn’t expecting such a big crowd and it was just too bad I didn’t get to use them.”
Strycova couldn’t conceal her delight at capturing the Australian Open girls’ title. “It’s an unbelievable feeling, I never won a Grand Slam before,” said the 15-year-old Czech.
Strycova proved unstoppable in the first set but had to battle hard in the second as Sharapova mounted a fight back, twice coming from a break down. “I think Maria was nervous before the match, so I won the first set easy. In the second set she was much better so it was hard to win.”
Strycova will celebrate her win with friends and family before coming straight back down to earth with a bump by getting back to her studies. Even Australian Open champions have to go to school, though Strycova probably doesn’t agree. “I hate school,” she said firmly.
Despite his loss in the singles final, Todd Reid had some cheery news today, he and his partner Ryan Henry emerged as boys doubles champions without hitting a shot. The Romanian teaming of Florian Mergea and Horia Tecau had to concede a walkover today when Tecau pulled up short just before the match with an abdominal strain.
For Angelique Widjaja from Indonesia a second grand slam title came her way today. Admittedly it was not the Wimbedon singles title but the feeling is just as good, the Australian Open girls doubles title. Teamed with Gisela Dulko from Argentina, herself a previous Grand Slam doubles titlest, they took on the number one seeded players Svetlana Kuznetsova and Matea Mezak and came out the victors with a final score of 62 57 64.
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