 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 26 Jan 2004 |
|
| 26 Jan 2004 - Melbourne Park, Australia - Eleanor Preston | |
| Mischa’s march on Melbourne |
Germany’s Mischa Zverev has unquestionably been the player in form heading into this year’s Australian Open, and confirmed his status amongst the favourites for the boys’ title with a merciless 6-2, 6-1 win over local wildcard Alexander Petropoulos on Monday.
Zverev, seeded second behind Sebastien Rieschick, has been on a tear since arriving in Australia, winning singles and doubles trophies at the Grade 2 Victorian Junior Championships in Traralgon and the Grade 1 Uncle Toby’s Junior Hardcourt Championships.
That’s the sort of record that would have many players putting themselves under pressure to perform, but if Zverev is feeling the weight of expectation, it certainly doesn’t show.
“I’m not someone who came here to Australia looking to win lots of matches, I just came here to have fun,” said the Moscow-born Zverev. “I’m just happy if my game is very good and as long as I play well I’m happy, even if I lose. It’s only if I played badly that I have a problem. It’s more important to me to feel good about my tennis and have fun.”
Life may not be quite as fun for Zverev when he takes on another Australian Lachlan Ferguson in the second round. The amiable teenager from Adelaide, who beat Switzlerland’s Stefan Kilchhofer 6-7, 6-3, 6-0, says he isn’t about to be intimidated by Zverev’s purple patch of form.
“I figure the winning streak’s got to come to an end some time, and I’m hoping that it happens against me,” he said. “Why not?”
The 17-year-old will certainly have home advantage. He trains at Melbourne Park with Australia’s other elite youngsters as part of Tennis Australia’s Targeted Athlete Programme, which he credits with making the local players feel comfortable together.
“It’s a great system because it places a lot of emphasis on team-work and cooperation and everyone works together with the same goal – improving our tennis,” he said. “It means we all look out for each other a lot.”
Ferguson can expect a few of his fellow players to come and watch his showdown with Zverev. “Even today there were a few of the Aussie guys out there and even their parents were standing watching with my dad,” he said. “It’s good because he’s the type of person who tries not to show me too much emotion about my matches but it must be eating him alive to watch me play.”
Elsewhere in the boys’ draw, top seed Rieschick was amongst a roster of winners on day one that included Americans Brendan Evans, Scott Oudsema and Scoville Jenkins; Indonesia’s Karan Rastogi and Gael Montfils (FRA).
Sergei Bubka Junior, whose dad is the legendary Ukrainian pole-vaulter of the same name, scored the biggest upset of the day, beating ninth seed Remko De Rijke (NED) 6-3, 7-5.
In the girl’s draw top seed Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK) skipped past Michelle Brycki (AUS) 6-1, 6-0; while Nicole Vaidsova (CZE), seeded three, was in equally dominant form against Bojana Bobuscic, beating the Australian 6-2, 6-1.
Serbia & Montenegro’s Ana Ivanovic, seeded seventh, marched through to the second round with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Ana Zubori of France.
“It’s hard this early in the season because for most of the year we all get to know each other’s games, then suddenly there are all these new faces,” said Ivanovic. “I feel like I have an advantage because this is my second year and so I know the place, I know the courts and I’m a lot more comfortable.”
^ Back to Top
|
