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| 12 Mar 2002 | |
| Day One, Monday 11 March 2002 |
The Banana Bowl got under way yesterday in Sao Paulo where the top juniors are battling to take their place amongst the illustrious list of winners.
The girls draw got off to a good start with all of the seeds in action progressing through to the 2nd round. Czech girls Barbora Strycova and Petra Cetkovska, No.1 and No.3 seeds respectively, both sailed through their opening rounds dropping only three games between them.
No.2 seed Virag Nemeth (HUN) and No.4 seed Maria Jose Argeri (ARG) were made to fight harder for their victories. Nemeth started well taking the first set against Marina Viliamovskaia (RUS) 60. The Hungarian then seemed to suffer a lapse in concentration to lose the second set 46 but quickly regained her composure to finish the match 60 46 60. Argeri triumphed in two very close fought sets against Dutch girl Dominique Van Boekel. Both sets went to a tie-break but the Argentinean held her nerve to pull off the victory 76(0) 76 (5).
Other seeds who enjoyed success on the opening day were No.6 seed Tatiana Golovin (FRA), No.7 seed Nika Ozegovic (CRO), No.13 seed Jamea Jackson (USA), No.15 seed Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) and No.16 seed Mariana Correa (ECU).
The opening day did not go as well for the seeds in the boys’ main draw where three seeds fell at the first hurdle.
No.12 seed David Brewer (GBR) was outplayed by local favourite Carlos Cirne Lima (BRA) 61 63. No.13 seed Antonio Ruiz (MEX) succumbed to the talents of Chilean No.1 Jorge Aguilar 75 76(7). Guy Thomas, No.16 seed was the third seed to fall, this time to Martin Stiegwardt (ECU) 63 76(5).
No.1 and No.2 seeds, Brian Dabul (ARG) and Lamine Ouahab (ALG) both successfully booked their spots in the next round, although not before Ouahab was given a scare by Jarret Chirico (USA) who took the first set 62. The Algerian fought back to take the second 64 and then ran way with the final set finishing the match 26 64 61. Brian Dabul had a more straight forward win over Demar Johnson from Jamaica 64 64.
Marcus Baghdatis (CYP), Steve Darcis (BEL), Guillermo Hormazabal (CHI), Brendan Evans (USA) and Chris Kwon (USA) are the other seeds who all survived the first day in Brazil and now move through to the second round.
The latest results can be found on , www.bananabowl.net
Photographs by Susan Mullane and Stephen Wake
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