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| 07 Sep 2001 | |
| Alex Bogdanovic storms into the semi-finals |
Alex Bogdanovic might not have been the name on everyone’s lips before this year’s US Open junior competition, but the British seventeen-year-old is certainly getting himself noticed now. Bogdanovic is through to the boys’ semi-finals after adding to his list of seeded scalps this week with an emphatic 6-1, 6-3 win over third seed Brian Dabul in the quarter-finals. Bogdanovic, who at 20 in the world narrowly missed out on a seeding position himself, has already beaten America’s Josh Cohen and Mexican Bruno Echagaray on his way to the last four and now faces another tough opponent in top seed Gilles Muller. Muller, who beat Lamine Ouahab 6-3, 6-2 in the quarters, was runner up at Wimbledon in July and could be Bogdanovic’s toughest challenge yet.
"It’s getting tougher every match," agreed the Briton. "He’s the No.1 seed and he could be No.1 in the world after this but I’m really confident at the moment and he’s going to be the one feeling a little bit tight out there with the pressure on him. All I can do is play my best and enjoy it. I’m playing well and if take each match at a time I think I can beat anybody."
Bogdanovic admits that his exceptional form this week has surprised even him. "This is my first time here but from the moment I arrived I just really liked this place. It all started with my first match, from then on, every point, every game, I just got more and more confident."
Bogdanovic revealed he’s been getting plenty of support from back home and recently practised with the British Davis Cup team, when he got some advice from Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman. "I spoke to Tim and he told me about when he was younger and some of his experiences. He really helped me a lot."
On the other side of the draw from Bogdanovic, Luciano Vitullo and Yeu-Tzuoo Wang will play the other boys’ semi-final after both scored straight sets wins on Friday. Vitullo beat Stephane Bohli 6-3, 6-4, while second seeded Wang eased past unseeded Miha Gregorc 6-3, 6-4.
In the girls’ singles quarter-finals Marion Bartoli notched up one of her biggest wins with a gutsy 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 win over top seed Kaia Kanepi. Bartoli now takes on American starlet Ashley Harkleroad for a place in the final. Harkleroad continued her strong showing at her home Grand Slam, following up yesterday’s high profile appearance on the Arthur Ashe stadium court with a more low profile but satsifying 6-1, 6-4 win over Barbora Strycova as it was Strycova that put Harkleroad out of Wimbledon. Svetlana Kuznetsova and Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian will play in the other girls’ semi-final after Kuznetsova beat Matea Mezak 7-5, 6-3 and Mikaelian, seeded second, rolled over unseeded Neyssa Etienne 6-1, 6-1.
ENDS
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