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| 06 Sep 2001 | |
| Ashley Harkleroad makes debut in Arthur Ashe Stadium |
By Eleanor Preston
An eventful day in Flushing Meadows saw a string of upsets rock the US Open boys and girls singles competitions. Among the seeded casualties in the girls’ draw were Wimbledon champion Angelique Widjaja, who lost 7-6, 6-4 to Svetlana Kuznetsova, Claudine Schaul, who was knocked out by Neyssa Etienne and Argentina’s Gisela Dulko, who became the latest victim of giant killer Barbora Strycova. Strycova, who battled hard to beat Dulko 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, also saw off 16th seed Virag Nemeth in the second round. Next up for Strycova will be American hope Ashley Harkleroad in the quarter-finals.
Harkleroad, seeded eighth, was the star of the show today, kicking off the day session in the vast Arthur Ashe stadium court with her match against Joanna Sakowicz. Harkleroad managed to shrug off any nerves of playing in such a daunting venue, demolishing Sakowicz 6-4, 6-2. The 16-year-old was making her second appearance on the court after taking part in the Arthur Ashe Kids Day exhibition match a fortnight ago but she admitted afterwards that when she was told she would be on the stadium court she could hardly believe her ears. "It was great," said a delighted Harkleroad. "I’d like to come back some day."
The top two seeds Kaia Kanepi and Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian both booked their places in the quarter-finals but it wasn’t smooth sailing for either of them. Kanepi fought off a determined challenge from Dinara Safina, edging out the Russian 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, while Mikaelian came from 4-1 down in the first set to beat Galina Fokina 7-6, 6-3.
In the boys tournament, Stephane Bohli found himself facing Robin Soderling who he defeated in last week's Canadian Open final, despite being seeded nine places above Bohli, Soderling couldn't get past the big serving Swiss, losing 6-0, 6-4. Bohli will meet Luciano Vitullo in the last eight after Vitullo notched up a one-sided 6-2, 6-2 win over Florian Mayer.
Luka Gregorc ended American hopes of a boys champion by beating Ytai Abougzir 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 and set up a last eight clash with second seed Yeu-Tzuoo Wang. Britain’s Alex Bogdanovic joined the list of giant killers, following up his second round victory over Frank Dancevic with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Bruno Echagaray. Bogdanovic will be up against Brian Dabul for a place in the semi-finals after Dabul, seeded three, proved too strong for Simon Stadler. Lamine Ouahab and top seed Gilles Muller will contest the other boys’ quarter-final.
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